China's rebar prices fell sharply in both the domestic and export markets on Friday March 23 after futures plunged in response to the country's brewing trade war with the United States. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,500-3,580 yuan ($553-566) per tonne, down 110-120 yuan per tonne Northern China (Beijing): 3,750-3,780 yuan per tonne, down 80 yuan per tonne US President Donald Trump unveiled...Read More
The base price assessments for flat and long stainless steel products in Europe have gone unchanged this week in a slow market, sources told Metal Bulletin on Friday March 23.Metal Bulletin's weekly base price assessment on Friday for 2mm, grade-304 CR stainless steel sheet was stable over the week at ?,?1,050-1,130 ($1,295-1,393) per tonne delivered in Northern Europe on Friday."Market activity w...Read More
Ferrous futures in China plunged during the morning trading session amid trade tensions between the country and the United States, with both announcing tariffs on each other's products.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange May rebar: 3,406 yuan per tonne, down 79 yuan per tonne May hot-rolled coil: 3,554 yuan per tonne, down 64 yuan per tonne Dalian Commodity Exchange...Read More
Domestic stainless steel prices in China remained in a downward trend over the past week amid a softening nickel market.Metal Bulletin's assessment of prices for benchmark 304 stainless CRC in the major market of Wuxi was 14,300-15,100 yuan ($2,259-2,386) per tonne including VAT for the week ended Thursday March 22, down 200 yuan per tonne from a week earlier....Read More
China has announced plans to impose tariffs on approximately $3 billion worth of United States-origin goods, including seamless steel pipes and aluminium scrap.China said it was considering measures to "balance out the losses caused to Chinese interests" by the US' imposition of blanket tariffs - 25% on steel imports, 10% on aluminium imports - that US President Donald Trump announced following th...Read More
Prices for Brazil-origin steel slab remained unchanged this week, but the market expects there to be increases after the country was temporarily exempted from tariffs related to the Section 232 investigation on steel imports in the United States.Metal Bulletin's weekly assessment of Brazil's slab export prices was $580-590 per tonne fob on Friday March 23, stable from the previous week.Most Brazil...Read More
SHANGHAI, Mar 23 (SMM) – Base metals fell across the board as trade tensions intensified. SHFE nickel led a slump of 3%, tin lost close to 2% and copper fell 1.7%. Lead and aluminium slid over 1%, while zinc dipped.The ferrous complex tumbled as rebar declined over 7%, iron ore fell 6% and hot-rolled coil lost 5%. Coke dropped close to 6%, while coking coal slid over 4%.Copper: SHFE copper s...Read More
SHANGHAI, Mar 23 (SMM) – Base metals fell across the board as trade tensions intensified. SHFE nickel led a slump of 3%, tin lost close to 2% and copper fell 1.7%. Lead and aluminium slid over 1%, while zinc dipped.The ferrous complex tumbled as rebar declined over 7%, iron ore fell 6% and hot-rolled coil lost 5%. Coke dropped close to 6%, while coking coal slid over 4%.Copper: SHFE copper s...Read More
The European steel association Eurofer is calling for quota-based safeguard trade measures even though the EU has been temporary exempted from Section 232 import tariffs in the United States.The US will delay imposing steel and aluminium tariffs - of 25% and 10%, respectively - against several countries while negotiations to exempt them more permanently take place.The EU was among t...Read More
SHANGHAI, Mar 23 (SMM) – Base metals fell across the board as trade tensions intensified. SHFE nickel led a slump of 3%, tin lost close to 2% and copper fell 1.7%. Lead and aluminium slid over 1%, while zinc dipped.The ferrous complex tumbled as rebar declined over 7%, iron ore fell 6% and hot-rolled coil lost 5%. Coke dropped close to 6%, while coking coal slid over 4%.Copper: SHFE copper s...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were added 4 points in pre-opening trade on news that the Senate passed a $1.3 trillion spending bill.World equity markets were weaker overnight. Weakest was the Nikkei Average, down 4.51%.Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of February Durable Goods Orders report at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus was an increase...Read More
SHANGHAI, Mar 23 (SMM) – Demand for nonferrous metals will surge as new energy vehicles are booming in China, said Lei Hongjun, chief engineer of the Yangtse Automobile Group. This is because new energy cars will utilise more metals, especially copper and aluminium, than traditional cars, he explained.Rising sales and output of electric cars is the biggest boost in demand for nonfe...Read More
SHANGHAI, Mar 23 (SMM) – Demand for nonferrous metals will surge as new energy vehicles are booming in China, said Lei Hongjun, chief engineer of the Yangtse Automobile Group. This is because new energy cars will utilise more metals, especially copper and aluminium, than traditional cars, he explained.Rising sales and output of electric cars is the biggest boost in demand for nonfe...Read More
SHANGHAI, Mar 23 (SMM) – Demand for nonferrous metals will surge as new energy vehicles are booming in China, said Lei Hongjun, chief engineer of the Yangtse Automobile Group. This is because new energy cars will utilise more metals, especially copper and aluminium, than traditional cars, he explained.Rising sales and output of electric cars is the biggest boost in demand for nonfe...Read More
India's Tata Steel is another step closer toward buying its insolvent counterpart Bhushan Steel after the latter's committee of creditors accepted its bid.Tata Steel, on Friday March 23, said that the committee had declared it the "successful resolution applicant" a day earlier, which paves the way for the acquisition, subject to necessary regulatory approvals.It has accepted the letter of intent...Read More
SHANGHAI, Mar 23 (SMM) – Trading in China's zinc spot market was flat on Friday March 23 as sellers destocked actively while downstream consumers mostly purchased as needed, SMM learned. In the Shanghai market, 0# zinc traded at 24,670-24,780 yuan/mt. The SHFE 1804 contract rebounded before closing and both the 0# common brand and Shuangyan brand traded flat to a premium o...Read More
SHANGHAI, Mar 23 (SMM) – This is a roundup of global macroeconomic news last night and what is expected today.Last nightAs trade tensions between the US and China intensified overnight, the US dollar fell and hovered at 89.7.Most base metals closed lower given the simmering trade war. SHFE nickel slipped over 2%, copper dropped 1%. LME nickel slumped 2.6%, and copper, lead, zi...Read More
SHANGHAI, Mar 23 (SMM) – China’s market for air conditioners is likely to maintain its upward momentum given potential demand, stable exports and leadership in manufacturing, said He Jinming, vice Chief Manager at ChinaIOL and chief manager at the Appliance Department.The market for air conditioner has seen robust growth in the last few years. Sales in China exceeded 80...Read More
The uncertainty created by the announcement of import tariffs under Section 232 in the United States kept Turkish steel mills out of the deep-sea scrap markets during the working week from Monday March 19 to Friday March 23, although strong demand in the US domestic market kept sentiment positive.But the poor demand for material sent Taiwanese import prices downward.Turkey importsThe Turkish steel...Read More
SHANGHAI, Mar 23 (SMM) – This is a roundup of global macroeconomic news last night and what is expected today.Last nightAs trade tensions between the US and China intensified overnight, the US dollar fell and hovered at 89.7.Most base metals closed lower given the simmering trade war. SHFE nickel slipped over 2%, copper dropped 1%. LME nickel slumped 2.6%, and copper, lead, zi...Read More