Major international mining companies operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have resigned from the country's Chamber of Commerce ahead of a month of talks with the government to resolve their dispute over the new mining code. A legal and technical team representing Randgold Resources, AngloGold Ashanti, Glencore PLC, Ivanhoe Mines, Gold Mountain International/Zijin Mining Group, MMG (...Read More
The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Thursday March 15.The LME aluminium price shrugged off news of a 22,270-tonne delivery in to listed warehouses in Port Klang. But the three-month tin price was the worst performer, falling $350 to $20,800 per tonne, coming under pressure from improved availability in China. Here is how the LME base meta...Read More
Turkish steel producers have extended their silence in the deep-sea scrap markets amid weak demand for their finished steel products in both the export and domestic markets, sources said on Thursday March 15.The mills were expected to book more cargoes for April, but they stepped back from the deep-sea market late last week after Section 232 import tariffs were officially signed into effect in the...Read More
Major international mining companies operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have resigned from the country's Chamber of Commerce ahead of a month of talks with the government to resolve their dispute over the new mining code. A legal and technical team representing Randgold Resources, AngloGold Ashanti, Glencore PLC, Ivanhoe Mines, Gold Mountain International/Zijin Mining Group, MMG (...Read More
Comex copper prices reversed lower on the morning of Thursday March 15 in the United States amid general hesitancy from traders and a stronger dollar.Copper for May settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange dipped by 4.55 cents or 1.4% to $3.113 per lb. Yesterday, the contract reached a two-week high at $3.192 per lb."The limited rebound indicates that traders remain ske...Read More
The London Metal Exchange is modifying its technology to allow it to launch multiple contracts at once, something it plans to do at the end of the year, according to the exchange's chief executive officer. Matthew Chamberlain said that the move, designed to add a level of dynamism to the LME's systems, would delink the launch of new contracts from the release of new technology. The exchange is the...Read More
North China's hot-rolled coil prices picked up on Thursday March 15 amid an extension of production limits in some parts of the region while those in the east narrowed upward on improved sentiment following a drop in supply.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,950-3,980 yuan ($625-630) per tonne, narrowed upward by 20 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,900-3,940 yuan per tonne, up 40 yuan pe...Read More
The London Metal Exchange is modifying its technology to allow it to launch multiple contracts at once, something it plans to do at the end of the year, according to the exchange's chief executive officer. Matthew Chamberlain said that the move, designed to add a level of dynamism to the LME's systems, would delink the launch of new contracts from the release of new technology. The exchange is the...Read More
China's ferrous futures ended the morning trading session little changed from their opening prices on Thursday March 15 amid an announcement that steelmakers in some parts of the country are to stop all blast furnace operations until the end of this month.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange May rebar: 3,748 yuan ($593.20) per tonne, up 8 yuan per tonne May hot-rolled...Read More
Dutch wire products supplier Van Merksteijn has confirmed that it has ordered an electric arc furnace (EAF) and wire rod rolling mill, enabling the company to secure supplies and substantially reduce its reliance on wire rod imports.The new facility will have a wire rod production capacity of 900,000 tonnes per year, and will be built at the seaport of Eemshaven in the north of the Netherlands.Wir...Read More
The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for rebar, wire rod, steel beams and other long steel products. Latest transaction: rebarRebar Egypt, domestic (Beshay Steel), rebar, offered at...Read More
Turkish steel producers have extended their silence in the deep-sea scrap markets amid weak demand for their finished steel products in both the export and domestic markets, sources said on Thursday March 15.The mills were expected to book more cargoes for April, but they stepped back from the deep-sea market late last week after Section 232 import tariffs were officially signed into effect in the...Read More
Iron ore prices edged up on Thursday March 15 amid improved sentiment following the release of data showing a drop in steel inventories in the Chinese market. Metal Bulletin's 62% Fe Iron Ore Index Today: $72.11 per tonne cfr Qingdao Daily change: up by $0.47 per tonne Month-to-date average: $73.95 per tonne Metal Bulletin's 58% Fe Premium Index Today: $57.71...Read More
The seaborne iron ore market maintained its stability on Thursday March 15 amid a slight drop in steel inventories in China, with premiums for index-linked cargoes of 62% Fe Australian fines failing to rise as much as expected.Key drivers The slight drop in steel inventories gave the market some optimism about demand from downstream industries beginning its recovery. According to a local informati...Read More
Turkish import and export billet prices have increased, amid strong local demand and tightening supplies in the CIS region, sources said on Thursday March 15.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for billet imports into Turkey was $560-570 per tonne cfr, up from $545-550 per tonne.There were several billet sales from the...Read More
Steel billet import prices and domestic rebar prices in Egypt increased again in the week ended Thursday March 15, with demand being better compared with previous weeks.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for Egyptian billet imports rose to $550-565 per tonne cfr on Thursday from $530-545 per tonne cfr previously.An unconfirmed quantity of...Read More
Active trading and gains in the futures market failed to push up China's domestic rebar prices on Thursday March 15, with sellers more anxious about de-stocking. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,790-3,850 yuan ($600-609) per tonne, unchanged Northern China (Beijing): 3,900-3,930 yuan per tonne, unchanged Buyers stepped up their procurement rates slightly following gains in the futures market d...Read More
Norwegian ferro-silicon producer Finnfjord Smelteverk will cut about 5,000 tonnes of production between April and June of this year because of planned maintenance to its furnaces, according to an industry source.The company, which has its plant in the north of the country, operates three furnaces, one with capacity for 20,000 tonnes per year and two with capacities for 40,000 tpy."Maintenance shou...Read More
Spot prices for European molybdic oxide and ferro-molybdenum have eased in Metal Bulletin's midweek assessment, with dealers booking profits after a market rally for much of the year to date.Market participants expect the move to persist in the near term, with lower spot prices already being offered and expected to be booked soon, they said.Oxide prices have dropped on around 140 tonnes of reporte...Read More
Japan's Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corporation will expand its global presence in special steels markets by acquiring Swedish special steels maker Ovako and making Japanese steel maker Sanyo Special Steel its subsidiary.The major Japanese steel producer intends to acquire Ovako from private equity fund Triton in the first half of the 2018 fiscal year subject to approval from the competition a...Read More