Despite the world of trade and economic weakness still very much in focus, markets have generally managed to do some consolidating, although with the gold price holding above $1,230 per oz, haven assets remain in demand.We still see the global economy as wounded and it will need a US-China trade deal to see it recover. US President Donald Trump said he would decide whether to extend tariffs on US...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their latest price moves.Read More
The price in China's domestic market for battery-grade lithium carbonate moved down week on week on slow demand because of the forthcoming Dragon Boat Festival on June 7-9; prices in the rest of the world were stable.Ex-works China battery-grade lithium carbonate price edges lower on weak demand Lithium hydroxide prices rangebound in China Rest of the world's prices unchanged. The battery-grade li...Read More
Fastmarkets MB is delaying the launch of a weekly price assessment of South America import aluminium-zinc alloy coated steel coil reported on a US-dollar-per-tonne cfr South America basis.Market participants have been reporting significant liquidity in this market, with steady volumes being traded weekly.Based on the most widely traded product specification, the weekly price assessm...Read More
European steelmakers increased their exports of hot-rolled coil (HRC) in April-May 2019 to try to compensate for poor domestic demand, market sources have told Fastmarkets.During those two months, prices for EU-produced HRC were lower than usual compared with prices in other main steel-supplying regions, driven downward primarily by sluggish trading activity.HRC is mainly exported by European mill...Read More
European steelmakers have called for the European Commission (EC) to review its decision to liberalize its import safeguard measures by increasing quota volumes by 5% each year, Fastmarkets has learned.The current safeguard mechanism will increase the level of tariff-free quotas for each product category by 5% after each year. The first liberalization will take place on July 1, 2019 - the end of t...Read More
Domestic rebar prices in Brazil fell during May as leading steelmakers battle with new participants for market share amid low domestic demand, retreating from announced price increases.Fastmarkets' domestic rebar price assessment was 2,450-2,600 Reais per tonne delivered on June 7, down from 2,600-2,720 Reais per tonne a month prior. The bottom of the price range is at its lowest for this year.Lon...Read More
Indian domestic prices for secondary steel billet fell by at least 800 rupees ($12) per tonne this week on account of reduced inquiries and minimal buying by finished product makers, Fastmarkets heard on Friday June 7.The domestic secondary billet price was assessed by Fastmarkets on Friday down by 800 rupees per tonne to 30,500-30,700 rupees ($440-443) per tonne ex-mill, compared with last week's...Read More
Domestic rebar prices in Poland have been largely unchanged over the past week, supported by solid demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday June 7.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for domestic 12mm B500B-grade rebar in Poland was 2,110-2,150 zloty ($553-565) per tonne ex-works on June 7, compared with 2,100-2,160 zloty per tonne ex-works a week earlier.The assessment reflects the d...Read More
Prices for alloy steel scrap in Europe and the UK were largely stable this week in a slow market where poor demand has been matched by limited supply, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday June 7."Demand has fallen off a cliff, but there's also really not a lot of supply - it has been very slow coming in. And the mills just don't need much [scrap]," a UK trader said.Fastmarkets' price assessment for...Read More
Global ferrous scrap prices moved downward during the week ended Friday June 7, notably in India and Taiwan, but prices in Turkey, the United States and Vietnam remaining unchanged on a lack of trading. Turkish market pauses for public holiday US export prices unchanged on lack of sales Vietnam prices flat on limited trading Taiwan prices dip on unconfirmed Turkish deal rumors Indian prices contin...Read More
The price of shredded ferrous scrap imported into India moved down week on week following poor demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday June 7.Fastmarkets' weekly index for containerized imports of shredded scrap into India was $324 per tonne cfr Nhava Sheva on Friday, down from $330.40 per tonne cfr Nhava Sheva one week previous.Offer prices for shredded this week ranged from $320-327 per tonne...Read More
Indian domestic prices for secondary steel billet fell by at least 800 rupees ($12) per tonne this week on account of reduced inquiries and minimal buying by finished product makers, Fastmarkets heard on Friday June 7.The domestic secondary billet price was assessed by Fastmarkets on Friday down by 800 rupees per tonne to 30,500-30,700 rupees ($440-443) per tonne ex-mill, compared with last week's...Read More
Prices in Southeast Asia's steel billet market remained stable on Friday June 7 with trading activity limited by the upcoming rainy season in the Philippines and public holidays in various areas to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.But market participants told Fastmarkets that they were were bearish about billet prices in Southeast Asia because of continued weakness in the domestic...Read More
Stainless steel prices in Europe were under pressure this week from lower June alloy surcharges and weak demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday June 7.Prices decreased only modestly this week, however, and mills were determined to resist the pressure and prevent any further price reductions, according to distributors.Fastmarkets assessment for grade-304 stainless steel cold-rolled (CR) sheet t...Read More
Domestic rebar prices in Brazil fell during May as leading steelmakers battle with new participants for market share amid low domestic demand, retreating from announced price increases.Fastmarkets' domestic rebar price assessment was 2,450-2,600 Reais per tonne delivered on June 7, down from 2,600-2,720 Reais per tonne a month prior. The bottom of the price range is at its lowest for this year.Lon...Read More
European steelmakers have called for the European Commission (EC) to review its decision to liberalize its import safeguard measures by increasing quota volumes by 5% each year, Fastmarkets has learned.The current safeguard mechanism will increase the level of tariff-free quotas for each product category by 5% after each year. The first liberalization will take place on July 1, 2019 - the end of t...Read More
Global aluminium billet premiums were mostly flat on Friday June 7 due to a lack of spot business, but the premium in Spain fell to its lowest since August 2017.Global aluminium billet premiums were mostly flat on Friday June 7 due to a lack of spot business, but the premium in Spain fell to its lowest since August 2017. Billet premiums in Germany, Italy stable Limited spot activity in US Argentin...Read More
An overview of the noble alloys markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
Domestic rebar prices in Brazil fell during May as leading steelmakers battle with new participants for market share amid low domestic demand, retreating from announced price increases.Fastmarkets' domestic rebar price assessment was 2,450-2,600 Reais per tonne delivered on June 7, down from 2,600-2,720 Reais per tonne a month prior. The bottom of the price range is at its lowest for this year.Lon...Read More