One disappointment after another in the world of trade and economic data, with the only relief coming in the form of potential for easier monetary policy, makes for a gloomy outlook.The outlook could be saved if a trade deal arrives soon, otherwise it looks like the global economy is being wounded as it suffers one blow after another.International Monetary Fund cuts its 2019 economic growth foreca...Read More
Indonesia will continue to ramp up its production of refined nickel in anticipation of demand for material to be used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, senior Macquarie consultant Jim Lennon told delegates at the 7th International Nickel Conference in Amsterdam on Thursday June 6.Macquarie has forecast that global nickel supply must grow by 1.7 million tonnes per year between 2018 and 2030. This...Read More
Trade log for battery-grade lithium carbonate in China including trades, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets. Unless otherwise stated, all prices are per tonne on an ex-works China basis. Delivered prices are netted back. Fastmarkets prices Click here for Fastmarkets price assessment for lithium carbonate min 99.5% Li2CO3 battery grade, spot price range, ex-works China, yuan per tonne. Fastmar...Read More
A potential global ban on internal combustion engines (ICEs) by 2030 could facilitate a growth in nickel's share of the electric vehicle battery market to 80%, Al Bedwell of automotive intelligence provider LMC Automotive said at the 7th International Nickel Conference on Thursday June 6. The potential for a ban of traditional ICE vehicles by 2030 is driven by crackdowns on carbon emissions in Eur...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
China's hot-rolled coil prices weakened again on Thursday June 6 on thin trading amid bearish sentiment and rising inventory levels.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,840-3,850 yuan ($556-557) per tonne, down 30 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,790-3,800 yuan per tonne, down 10 yuan per tonneTransaction prices fell nationwide despite mills keeping their offers steady, with buyers being r...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Thursday June 6 that are worth another look.A potential global ban on internal combustion engines in 2030 could facilitate growth in nickel's share of the electric vehicle battery market to 80%, Al Bedwell, of automotive intelligence provider LMC Automotive, said at the 7th International Nickel Conference on Thursday June 6. A grou...Read More
Reinforcing bar prices in the United States have hit a more than 14-month low, with market sources expecting lackluster demand, abundant supply, falling scrap costs, trade-related uncertainties and slowing business conditions to weaken prices further. Fastmarkets' price assessment for domestic rebar fell to $33.50-34 per hundredweight ($670-680 per short ton) fob mill on Wednesday June 5, its lowe...Read More
International metals group Liberty House is unlikely to bid for troubled UK long steel producer British Steel, Fastmarkets has heard.Liberty House declined to comment on the subject at the time of publication."British Steel doesn't really fit in with their business model, which is based on recycling steel scrap rather than primary steel production," an industry source told Fastmarkets on Thursday...Read More
Turkish mills booked no deep-sea cargoes on Thursday June 5, due to the Eid al-Fitr public holiday, sources told Fastmarkets.The market will remain subdued for the remainder of the week while Turkey marks the end of the period of abstinence for the Islamic holy month of...Read More
Physical iron ore prices were rangebound on Thursday May 6, while the futures market experienced choppy trading.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $100.60 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.22 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $99.40 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.54 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $104.04 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $0.46 per tonne. MB 58% Fe Premium Index: $90.86 p...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices retreated on Thursday June 6 on softer demand amid losses in the futures market. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,890-3,930 yuan ($563-569) per tonne, down 30 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,840-3,890 yuan per tonne, down 10 yuan per tonneStockists cut their prices to secure more sales ahead of the long weekend, with China observing a public holiday on F...Read More
Import prices for stainless steel in East Asia declined slightly over the past week amid lackluster demand and expectations of further price decreases later this month."Demand for stainless steel in China usually falls in the summer months starting in June, possibly due to weaker downstream demand," a trader in East China said."With the price of nickel trending downward, stainless steel prices are...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Thursday June 6 that are worth another look.A potential global ban on internal combustion engines in 2030 could facilitate growth in nickel's share of the electric vehicle battery market to 80%, Al Bedwell, of automotive intelligence provider LMC Automotive, said at the 7th International Nickel Conference on Thursday June 6. A grou...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
South Korean steel majors Posco and Hyundai Steel have both been asked by provincial governments to idle their blast furnaces over pollution levels, market sources told Fastmarkets MB on Tuesday June 4."However, there is no confirmation as to whether both steelmakers will stop their blast furnaces and they...Read More
A 50:50 joint venture between Luxembourg-based trader/steel producer Duferco and United States steelmaker Nucor Corp has announced plans to build a ?,?150 million steel beam rolling mill in Brescia, Northern Italy.The Duferdofin-Nucor mill is expected to be fully operational by mid-2022 and will have an annual production of more than 1 million tonnes of...Read More
The three-month lead price on the London Metal Exchange climbed by just under 2% at the close of trading on Thursday June 6, closing just below $1,900 per tonne amid news of Nyrstar's declaration of force majeure at its Port Pirie smelter in Australia. The force majeure affects lead contracts for deliveries from Port Pirie after the blast furnace failed at the end of May. Representatives at t...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
Trade log for battery-grade lithium carbonate in China including trades, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets. Unless otherwise stated, all prices are per tonne on an ex-works China basis. Delivered prices are netted back. Fastmarkets prices Click here for Fastmarkets price assessment for lithium carbonate min 99.5% Li2CO3 battery grade, spot price range, ex-works China, yuan per tonne. Fastmar...Read More