The inter-merchant spot market for UK light iron scrap was stable over the week to Friday August 16, marking eight weeks of stability, with the price range hemmed between relatively tight availability for major shredder companies and capped to the upside on slow consumer demand. The steady trend marks one of the longest runs of price stability in the market for more than 20 years, according to the...Read More
The Turkish steel mills have held back from deep-sea scrap import activity this week because the market was mostly closed due to the Islamic holiday in the country, sources said on Friday August 16.The Turkish market and those in other Middle Eastern territories were closed until August 15 for the Islamic Eid al-Adha celebrations, and a lot of market...Read More
Alloy steel scrap prices in the UK and Europe were largely stable this week with the recent surge in the price of nickel losing its momentum, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday August 16.The price of nickel, 3 months, London Metal Exchange Daily Official, was $16,050-16,055 per tonne on August 16, compared with $15,675-15,680 per tonne on August 9, a gain of $375 per tonne.This compared with the p...Read More
The price of shredded ferrous scrap imported into India has fallen to fresh annual lows this week while offer prices continue to fall in the hope of securing a buyer, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday August 16.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel scrap, shredded, index, import, cfr Nhava Sheva, India was $300.67 per tonne on August 16, down from $305.17 per tonne on August 9.Although s...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices increased on Friday August 16 with more deals concluded. Fastmarkets' index for iron ore 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $89.57 per tonne, up by $1.13 per tonne. Fastmarkets' index for iron ore 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines, cfr Qingdao: $89.95 per tonne, up by $3.01 per tonne. Fastmarkets' index for iron ore 62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $89.50 per tonne, up by $1.28 per...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices were flat on Friday August 16, though trading activity increased slightly. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,670-3,700 yuan ($521-525) per tonne, unchangedNorthern China (Beijing): 3,610-3,630 yuan per tonne, unchangedRebar futures picked up earlier in the day, which stimulated buying interest in the spot market. The benchmark rebar contract on the Shanghai Futures...Read More
The seaborne coking coal market resumed its downtrend on Friday August 16, with a widening price gap between low-vol and mid-vol cargoes reflecting relatively stronger demand for higher-quality products.A cargo of premium mid-vol hard coking coal traded at $160 per tonne cfr China, sources told Fastmarkets during the day. The transaction price is about $10 per tonne lower than that for a low-vol c...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices recovered some losses on Friday August 16 after trading activity returned to moderate levels, which led mills to turn down low bids in the export market.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,720-3,730 yuan ($529-530) per tonne, up 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,720 yuan per tonne, unchangedHRC futures largely trended upward during the day, which led to t...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
The following Fastmarkets minor metals prices changed on Friday August 16:Minor metals Antimony max 100ppm Bi, in-whs Rotterdam $/tonne: $5,900-6,100 per tonne from $5,950-6,150Antimony MMTA standard grade II, in-whs Rotterdam, $/tonne: $5,750-6,000 per tonne from $5,800-6,000Bismuth 99.99% Bi min, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb: $2.75-2.95 per lb from $2.80-2.95Bismuth 99.99% Bi min, in-whs...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
The price range for grade-304 cold-rolled stainless sheets narrowed upward this week while participants increasingly expect monthly alloy surcharges for September to rise substantially, Fastmarkets heard on Friday August 16.Fastmarkets' assessment of the price for stainless steel cold-rolled sheet, 2mm, grade-304, transaction domestic, delivered North Europe was ?,?2,230-2,250 ($2,482-2,504) per t...Read More
Market participants in Asia expect PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel to be the most significantly affected should the European Union decide to impose anti-dumping duties on imports of stainless hot-rolled coil and sheet from the region.The EU earlier this week initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of such products from China, Indonesia and Taiwan.The EU probe could further limi...Read More
Holiday absences in the key markets of South Korea and Japan have limited spot trading in ferrous scrap in the week ended Friday August 16, with only a limited number of transactions heard concluded to Taiwan.Japanese exporters were not offering much material because most market participants were on vacation."Sellers in both the United States and Japan will probably lower their offers next week, w...Read More
Turkey's military pension fund, OYAK, has reached a provisional agreement to buy steelmaker British Steel, OYAK said on Friday August 16. OYAK is the biggest shareholder of Turkey's largest steel producer, Erdemir Group, and this agreement is a step toward in its goal to become a regional leader in steel sector, OYAK said. British Steel entered into compulsory liquidation in May 2019 and rece...Read More
The three-month nickel price on the London Metal Exchange closed at its highest since December 2014 on Thursday August 15, climbing to $16,250 per tonne amid renewed buying momentum, while a steady incline in tin futures led to its highest close since August 1. Nickel began the day's trading below the nearby $16,000 per tonne resistance level, falling to an intraday low of $15,765 per tonne, befor...Read More
Chilean state-owned copper producer Codelco began operations at Chuquicamata's subterranean phase on Wednesday August 14, with an aim to increase mine life by 40 years and to improve the division's productivity, the company said.The new venture for the centennial open pit mine has 1.03 million tonnes of copper mineral reserves, at 0.82% content, the miner added. These volumes will result in 320,00...Read More
The world's biggest copper consumer could be getting ready to start spending, analysts told Fastmarkets. Analysts expect China's State Grid Corp of China, whose budget comprises 50% of the country's annual copper demand, to come good on promises to increase investment on the nation's electronic grid by 5% this year. That amounts to 14 billion yuan ($2 billion) of extra spending, according to estim...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Thursday August 15 that are worth another look.The world's biggest copper consumer could be getting ready to start spending, analysts told Fastmarkets. Analysts expect China's State Grid Corp of China, whose budget comprises 50% of the country's annual copper demand, to come good on promises to increase investment on the nation's electr...Read More
Chilean state-owned copper producer Codelco began operations at Chuquicamata's subterranean phase on Wednesday August 14, with an aim to increase mine life by 40 years and to improve the division's productivity, the company said.The new venture for the centennial open pit mine has 1.03 million tonnes of copper mineral reserves, at 0.82% content, the miner added. These volumes will result in 320,00...Read More