A series of press reports relating to the changes in Indonesia's nickel ore export ban policy amid volatile nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange has left market participants baffled, Fastmarkets understands.The latest news regarding Indonesian nickel exports claims that Indonesia's President Joko Widodo will make the final decision on whether the country will bring an export ban on mineral o...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
Steel mills in Turkey have remained out of the deep-sea scrap markets so far this week with trading limited by the Eid al-Adha religious holiday in the country, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday August 14.The Turkish market and those in other Middle Eastern territories will be closed until August 15 for Eid al-Adha; no new deals for cargoes were expected to be heard before then.As a...Read More
Trading volumes on the London Metal Exchange declined by 6% in the first half of 2019, parent company Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing (HKEX) said in its own half-year results announcement.HKEX said the chargeable average daily volume of contracts traded on the LME was 619,000 lots in the first six months of the year, compared with 659,000 lots during the same period...Read More
Alita Resources, formerly known as Alliance Mineral Assets and listed on the Australian and Singaporean securities exchanges, has suspended the trading of its securities as of Wednesday August 14 on the lower lithium prices. The company will be discussing its debt situation with lenders while negotiating with its spodumene offtake partners in the following weeks, Fastmarkets has learned. Oversuppl...Read More
Export prices for Chinese cold-rolled coil and hot-dipped galvanized coil dropped over the past week, largely due to limited buying interest arising from heightened trade tensions between China and the United States, market sources told Fastmarkets.The Chinese currency passed the 7-yuan per $1 threshold earlier this month after US president Donald Trump announced plans to impose 10% duties on...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil sellers raised prices on Wednesday August 14 amid gains in the country's financial markets after the United States took $156 billion worth of Chinese goods out of a list of items that is to start incurring a new 10% import tariff next month.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,720-3,730 yuan ($527-528) per tonne, up 20 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,720-3,730 yuan...Read More
Chinese output of hot metal, crude steel and finished steel all fell on a month-on-month basis in July amid weakening demand and steelmaking restrictions in the country's production hub in northern China. Demand in China's domestic market weakened last month amid bad weather - heavy rain in some regions and sweltering heat in most of the country - which was a major contributing factor for July's l...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday August 14 that are worth another look.A series of press reports relating to the changes in Indonesia's nickel ore export ban policy amid volatile nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange has left market participants baffled, Fastmarkets understands.China announced a third round of copper scrap import quotas on August 14, all...Read More
The price of steel mesh-quality wire rod in the northern and southern European domestic markets was largely unchanged in the week to August 14, with trading activity remaining subdued amid the seasonal August slowdown, Fastmarkets heard.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel wire rod (mesh-quality), domestic, delivered Northern Europe was ?,?485-510 ($543-571) per tonne on Wednesday August...Read More
The price of steel rebar in the domestic market of Northern Europe has been stable over the past week amid subdued trading that is typical for this time of year, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday August 14.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?500-520 ($560-582) per tonne on Wednesday.The market slowdown in the north...Read More
Steel mills in Turkey have remained out of the deep-sea scrap markets so far this week with trading limited by the Eid al-Adha religious holiday in the country, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday August 14.The Turkish market and those in other Middle Eastern territories will be closed until August 15 for Eid al-Adha; no new deals for cargoes were expected to be heard before then.As a...Read More
Physical iron ore prices rebounded on Wednesday August 14 amid an easing of the trade tensions between China and the United States, but seaborne buying remained lackluster.Fastmarkets' index for iron ore 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $90.72 per tonne, up by $1.47 per tonne.Fastmarkets' index for iron ore 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines, cfr Qingdao: $89.22 per tonne, up by $1.47 per tonne.Fastmarkets' ind...Read More
Trading volumes on the London Metal Exchange declined by 6% in the first half of 2019, parent company Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing (HKEX) said in its own half-year results announcement.HKEX said the chargeable average daily volume of contracts traded on the LME was 619,000 lots in the first six months of the year, compared with 659,000 lots during the same period...Read More
Iranian export prices for steel billet and slab remained largely unchanged in the week to Wednesday August 14 amid a holiday lull in the country and in the major sales outlets.Most market participants in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in Southeast Asia, have been out of the market in recent days due to Eid al-Adha religious holiday, which ends on August 14.But market participants bel...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices continue rising on Wednesday August 14 after Tuesday's unexpected announcement by United States President Donald Trump of a delay in the imposition of a further 10% tariff on a number of Chinese goods until December 15. China's domestic rebar prices continue rising on Wednesday August 14 after Tuesday's unexpected announcement by United States President Donald Tr...Read More
Chinese output of hot metal, crude steel and finished steel all fell on a month-on-month basis in July amid weakening demand and steelmaking restrictions in the country's production hub in northern China. Demand in China's domestic market weakened last month amid bad weather - heavy rain in some regions and sweltering heat in most of the country - which was a major contributing factor for July's l...Read More
Domestic prices for hollow steel sections remained unchanged across Europe this week, with trading largely on hold during the traditional summer break, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday August 14.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, stayed at ?,?615-630 ($688-705) per tonne on Wednesday.During August, many workers take...Read More
Export prices for Chinese cold-rolled coil and hot-dipped galvanized coil dropped over the past week, largely due to limited buying interest arising from heightened trade tensions between China and the United States, market sources told Fastmarkets.The Chinese currency passed the 7-yuan per $1 threshold earlier this month after US president Donald Trump announced plans to impose 10% duties on...Read More
Chinese output of hot metal, crude steel and finished steel all fell on a month-on-month basis in July amid weakening demand and steelmaking restrictions in the country's production hub in northern China. Demand in China's domestic market weakened last month amid bad weather - heavy rain in some regions and sweltering heat in most of the country - which was a major contributing factor for July's l...Read More