Ferro-chrome production cuts are likely due to today's low pricing environment, prompting a rebound in the market when supply surpluses shrink, Merafe Resources said on Monday August 5. The South African chrome producer, which runs a joint venture project with trader-miner Glencore, said price and exchange rate volatility are expected to continue to affect the market while global uncertainty will...Read More
Chinese imports of manganese ore totaled 15.7 million tonnes in the first six months of 2019, up by 27.8% from around 12.3 million tonnes in the corresponding period of 2018, according to official but unconfirmed data seen by Fastmarkets. In June, China imported about 2.03 million tonnes of manganese ore, marking an increase of around 3% from 1.97 million tonnes last June, despite being down by 39...Read More
Brazilian automotive output totaled 266,371 units in July, increasing by 8.4% from 245,641 units in the corresponding a year before, with the domestic market showing continued signs of strength, vehicle manufacturers' association Anfavea said on Tuesday August 6.New locally produced vehicle registrations totaled 218,492 units in the month, up by 14.9% compared with 190,151 units in July 2018. Grow...Read More
Brazilian iron ore exports fell by 4.7% on the year in July, with Vale's successful resumption of some of its suspended operations slowing the rate of decrease in comparison with those a few months earlier, data released last week by Brazil's ministry of economy showed.The country exported 34.27 million tonnes of the steelmaking raw material last month, compared with 35.96 million tonnes a year ea...Read More
The weakening of the yuan to a decade-low against the US dollar is causing a lot of disruption to steel trading markets in Asia, sources told Fastmarkets this week."The situation is very chaotic now, and bids and offers are all over the place," a trader in East Asia said on Monday August 5.China's decision to let its currency weaken to such lows - which has led to accusations against Beijing that...Read More
Aluminium premiums were largely stable in the global markets in the week ended Tuesday August 6, except in the US Midwest, where a lack of demand pushed the premium downward. US Midwest premium falls to lowest since March MJP premium stable but some lower deals heard due to financial year-end stock clearing European market flat with activity expected to resume later this month.US Midwest premium s...Read More
A summary of base metals premiums from across the globe for the week to Tuesday August 6. Please click...Read More
Prices of ferrous scrap in the Mexican steelmaking hubs of Monterrey and Baj?-o remained stable during the week ended Friday August 2, despite talks of price increases in these regions.In Monterrey, key ferrous scrap prices were stable week-on-week, several sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' assessment for steel scrap No1 busheling, consumer buying price, delivered mill Monterrey, was stable at...Read More
The export markets for CIS-origin hot-rolled coil and cold-rolled coil (HRC, CRC) have weakened on soft customers' markets and price competition with other exporters, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday August 5.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel HRC, export, fob Black Sea, CIS, was $470-485 per tonne on Monday, down from $485-500 per tonne week on week."The local market is weakening here [in...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday August 6 that are worth another look.Lithium producer Orocobre and joint-venture partner Toyota Tsusho Corp have started construction on what will be the first lithium hydroxide plant in Japan. UC Rusal has suspended operations at Russia's biggest alumina plant in Achinsk due to a series of blasts at a Russian military base...Read More
Switzerland-based commodities trader Werco Trade has hired metal concentrates trader Theresa Nepote as part of a push to expand the company's commercial capabilities, it said on Tuesday August 6.Nepote will join Werco as a senior trader, enabling the company to diversify into additional markets, the company said. She most recently traded zinc, lead and copper concentrates at Bluequest Resources an...Read More
Physical tin market participants disagree over the next move in the price, with some telling Fastmarkets that it could rebound after a slide of more than 12% over the past two months although weak demand and erratic stock moves continue to dent momentum. On the London Metal Exchange, the three-month tin price has fallen by 12.7% since June 5 from above $19,000 per tonne. The price is also down by...Read More
Observers of the copper market are looking at a trend that started in 2001 to determine where the market could find support after five days of successive selling took the price to two-year lows by Monday August 5.At $5,665 per tonne, the London Metal Exchange's benchmark three-month copper futures contract was down by 5.9% since Tuesday last week, having sold off again on Monday amid a worsening d...Read More
China's demand for imported billet could shrink in the coming months due to a surge in supply that could cause domestic spot prices to fall and make them more attractive to buyers.While large tonnages were delivered to the country over the past couple of months, market participants do not expect imports to continue at the same pace over the rest of the year. In June, China imported 110,000 tonnes...Read More
Physical tin market participants disagree over the next move in the price, with some telling Fastmarkets that it could rebound after a slide of more than 12% over the past two months although weak demand and erratic stock moves continue to dent momentum. On the London Metal Exchange, the three-month tin price has fallen by 12.7% since June 5 from above $19,000 per tonne. The price is also down by...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices held steady on Tuesday August 6, but export prices for the long steel product fell as a result of a weaker yuan. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,770-3,800 yuan ($538-542) per tonne, unchangedNorthern China (Beijing): 3,730-3,760 yuan per tonne, unchangedTraders kept prices flat during the day to see how the futures market develops.Sellers would not have been able...Read More
Observers of the copper market are looking at a trend that started in 2001 to determine where the market could find support after five days of successive selling took the price to two-year lows by Monday August 5.At $5,665 per tonne, the London Metal Exchange's benchmark three-month copper futures contract was down by 5.9% since Tuesday last week, having sold off again on Monday amid a worsening d...Read More
Prices for flat steel imports into the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were stable in the week ended Tuesday August 6, with demand weak because of the upcoming Eid al Adha religious holiday next week.The market was expected to improve in the second half of August, when the eid, and the Hajj pilgrimage and holiday seasons, will almost be over.Some deals were placed last week, so buyers did no...Read More
The Turkish steel mills continued to stay away from the deep-sea scrap markets due to the persistent weak demand for finished long steel products, sources said on Tuesday August 6.Since the mills in the country booked a number of deep-sea cargoes in the week ended July 26, they have made no further purchases.Turkish steel producers want to sell some rebar before making any further deep-sea...Read More
The Midwest aluminium premium in the United States moved to its lowest level in nearly 17 months on Tuesday August 6, with buyers remaining detached from the spot market. Fastmarkets' assessment of the aluminium P1020A premium, ddp Midwest US, edged down to 17.5-18 cents per lb on August 6, down from 17.75-18.25 cents per lb previously, where the premium had held since mid-July.The premium has bee...Read More