The graphite electrodes used in electric-arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking have changed from being a commodity to a strategic material, with prices surging last year amid drastic changes in market conditions, an industry conference has heard.Dr Mark Shujun Ma, the vice-chairman of the China Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, was speaking at the 78th meeting of the International Rebar Producers...Read More
Prices for steel rebar in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were stable this week although demand remained weak, sources told Metal Bulletin on Tuesday May 15.The market was expected to remain slow in the near term because of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins later this week, and during which working hours will be reduced.Domestic rebarThe major rebar producers in the UAE hav...Read More
Gains in the billet and futures markets on Tuesday May 15 gave domestic rebar prices in China a small boost.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,980-4,030 yuan ($628-636) per tonne, up 20 yuan per tonne Northern China (Beijing): 3,940-3,970 yuan per tonne, narrowed upward by 10 yuan per tonne Traders raised their prices following gains in the futures market during Monday's night trading session as...Read More
Turkish steel producers broke their silence in the deep-sea scrap markets with the purchase of a UK cargo on Tuesday May 15.A steel mill in the Marmara region booked the cargo, comprising 44,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $345 per tonne and 22,000 tonnes of shredded at $366 per tonne cfr.Shredded scrap usually trades at a $5 per tonne premium over HMS 1&2 (80:20), but the supplier said that the...Read More
Physical iron ore prices fell on Tuesday May 15, even though steel prices increased.Metal Bulletin 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $67.28 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down by $1.65 per tonne Metal Bulletin 58% Fe Premium Index: $54.56 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down by $1.14 per tonne Metal Bulletin 65% Fe Iron Ore Index: $86.30 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up by $0.90 per tonne Metal Bulletin 62% Fe China Port Price Inde...Read More
China's ferrous futures all opened high but went on to tank during morning trading on Tuesday May 15, following the release of data pointing to a high supply of steel in the country.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange October rebar: 3,656 yuan ($577) per tonne, down 47 yuan per tonne October hot-rolled coil: 3,763 yuan per tonne, down 26 yuan per tonne Dalian Commodi...Read More
Prices for steel rebar in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were stable this week although demand remained weak, sources told Metal Bulletin on Tuesday May 15.The market was expected to remain slow in the near term because of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins later this week, and during which working hours will be reduced.Domestic rebarThe major rebar producers in the UAE hav...Read More
Gains in the billet and futures markets on Tuesday May 15 gave domestic rebar prices in China a small boost.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,980-4,030 yuan ($628-636) per tonne, up 20 yuan per tonne Northern China (Beijing): 3,940-3,970 yuan per tonne, narrowed upward by 10 yuan per tonne Traders raised their prices following gains in the futures market during Monday's night trading session as...Read More
Rangebound ACCESS RESTRICTEDTo read the rest of this analysis please take a free sample or subscribeFREE SampleReceive a free sample of market analysis and price forecasts.Free SampleSUBSCRIBEReceive unlimited access to all current and archive content going back to 2008 including downloadable pricing data and forecasts.Plus download the latest issue as soon as it’s published.S...Read More
Import prices for steel billet and slab in Southeast Asia were relatively steady over the past week amid soft demand as a result of subdued sales downstream, particularly in Indonesia.BilletMetal Bulletin's assessment of import prices for billet in Southeast Asia was $550-560 per tonne cfr for the week ended Monday May 14, narrowing upward by $5 per tonne from a week earlier.Deals involving billet...Read More
Aluminium consolidating around the $2,300 per...ACCESS RESTRICTEDTo read the rest of this analysis please take a free sample or subscribeFREE SampleReceive a free sample of market analysis and price forecasts.Free SampleSUBSCRIBEReceive unlimited access to all current and archive content going back to 2008 including downloadable pricing data and forecasts.Plus download the latest i...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 11 points in pre-opening trade. Index futures moved lower following release of economic news at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus for April Retail Sales was an increase of 0.3% versus a revised gain of 0.8% in March. Actual was an increase of 0.3%. Excluding auto sales, consensus for April Retail Sales was an increase of 0.5% ve...Read More
Market acceptance of the quarterly European ferro-chrome benchmark system will continue for at least the short term, according to market participants polled by Metal Bulletin. Discontent with the settlement in previous years appears to have faded because of the stability it offers in relation to the volatility seen on the Chinese spot market. The benchmark is set in negotiations between the buy an...Read More
SHANGHAI, May 15 (SMM) – Most nonferrous metals rose on Tuesday May 15 except for SHFE copper and lead. SHFE nickel led the gains and closed 1.7% higher. Aluminium, zinc, and tin went up slightly. The ferrous complex rose across the board with coke leading the gains with a rise of over 1%. Coking coal increased nearly 1%, hot-rolled coil gained 0.7%, while rebar and iron ore inched up.C...Read More
SHANGHAI, May 15 (SMM) – Most nonferrous metals rose on Tuesday May 15 except for SHFE copper and lead. SHFE nickel led the gains and closed 1.7% higher. Aluminium, zinc, and tin went up slightly. The ferrous complex rose across the board with coke leading the gains with a rise of over 1%. Coking coal increased nearly 1%, hot-rolled coil gained 0.7%, while rebar and iron ore inched up.C...Read More
Aluminium Last week our headline was that aluminium prices...ACCESS RESTRICTEDTo read the rest of this analysis please take a free sample or subscribeFREE SampleReceive a free sample of market analysis and price forecasts.Free SampleSUBSCRIBEReceive unlimited access to all current and archive content going back to 2008 including downloadable pricing data and forecasts.Plus dow...Read More
SHANGHAI, May 15 (SMM) – Most nonferrous metals rose on Tuesday May 15 except for SHFE copper and lead. SHFE nickel led the gains and closed 1.7% higher. Aluminium, zinc, and tin went up slightly. The ferrous complex rose across the board with coke leading the gains with a rise of over 1%. Coking coal increased nearly 1%, hot-rolled coil gained 0.7%, while rebar and iron ore inched up.C...Read More
Chinese ferro-silicon prices strengthened in the week ending Friday May 11 after production was cut in the country due to higher electricity costs for producers, with the trend seen persisting through June. Chinese consumers look to buy ahead of higher prices US market sags amid inactivity, more imports European spot market stagnates after second-quarter settlements Chinese domestic f...Read More
HONG KONG, May 15 (SMM) – The outlook on China’s macroeconomics appears more bullish than it was at the start of the year, according to Ian Roper, general manager of SMM Singapore.It was clear at the start of the year that China looked to slow down growth by tightening credit and cutting infrastructure spending, given stronger global economic growth, Roper told delegates at t...Read More
SHANGHAI, May 15 (SMM) –Copper: LME copper plummeted to a low of $6,850/mt last night as LME copper inventory grew 8,900 mt. This was the first increase in inventory after close to two weeks of decline. LME copper stood below the five-day moving average with significant pressure from several moving averages above. It is likely to trade at $6,850-6,900/mt today. The SHFE 1807 contract was dra...Read More