SHANGHAI, Feb 9 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals futures fell across the board today with SHFE tin and nickel down 2%. While copper slid over 1%, SHFE zinc, aluminium and lead all edged down.The performance of the ferrous complex was no different from its base metals peers. Coke dropped nearly 2% while hot-rolled coil was down 1.5%. Rebar fell 1% as coking coal and iron ore slipped. Copper: T...Read More
SHANGHAI, Feb 9 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals futures fell across the board today with SHFE tin and nickel down 2%. While copper slid over 1%, SHFE zinc, aluminium and lead all edged down.The performance of the ferrous complex was no different from its base metals peers. Coke dropped nearly 2% while hot-rolled coil was down 1.5%. Rebar fell 1% as coking coal and iron ore slipped. Copper: T...Read More
SHANGHAI, Feb 9 (SMM) – LME copper inventory added over 40,000 mt over the past two days to 336,225 mt as of Friday February 9, highest level seen since May 2017. The ratio of cancelled warrants also dropped to 12.9% amid weak demand. For editorial queries, please contact Daisy Tseng at daisy@smm.cn For more information on how to access our research reports, please email ser...Read More
Lead was the only base metal traded on the London Metal Exchange to close in positive territory on Friday February 9, with the others falling while the dollar strengthened further.The three-month copper price hit its lowest since December 14 earlier today before closing back below $6,700 per tonne for the first time in 2018. "The copper price continues to unwind, touching its lowest in nearly eigh...Read More
The London Metal Exchange's average daily volume (ADV) was little changed for January 2018 when compared with the previous year, but only when you take into account trading changes due to the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) II.The headline ADV figure for January 2018 is 712,722 lots per day, which appears to be a huge increase on face value compared with 619,524 lots in January...Read More
Iron ore prices fell below $77 per tonne cfr China on Friday February 9 due to a slowdown in trading activity ahead of the Chinese New Year holidays.Metal Bulletin's 62% Fe Iron Ore Index Today: $76.46 per tonne cfr QingdaoDaily change: down by $0.86 per tonneMonth-to-date average: $75.70 per tonneMetal Bulletin's 58% Fe Premium Index Today: $60.88 per tonne cfr QingdaoDaily change: down by $0.92...Read More
European stainless steel base prices have remained unchanged over the past week, sources told Metal Bulletin on Friday February 9.Metal Bulletin's weekly base price assessment on Friday for 2mm, grade-304 CR stainless steel sheet was ?,?1,060-1,120 ($1,299-1,373) per tonne delivered in Northern Europe."The good market sentiment in January didn't turn into much [buying] action, and it seems like th...Read More
Lead was the only base metal traded on the London Metal Exchange to close in positive territory on Friday February 9, with the others falling while the dollar strengthened further.The three-month copper price hit its lowest since December 14 earlier today before closing back below $6,700 per tonne for the first time in 2018. "The copper price continues to unwind, touching its lowest in nearly eigh...Read More
The US aluminium foundry premium has stayed flat again this month, while premiums in Germany and Eastern Europe slipped.US foundry alloy premium flat on limited spot activity The US aluminium foundry alloy premium has remained at 9-11 cents per pound, with market participants reporting that conditions cited for raising other US aluminium premiums did not appear to have an effect. "I assume ABI [Al...Read More
Rio Tinto is continuing to assess the viability of the Jadar lithium-borate project in Serbia, which already hits a number of key criteria for approval, a senior executive at Rio Tinto told Metal Bulletin. "For us, Jadar is a great asset and has a by-product credit, which puts it at the lower end of the cost curve. We have to finalize the feasibility and pre-feasibility studies, and get board appr...Read More
Comex copper prices slipped to a multi-month low in US morning trading on Friday February 9, with a stronger dollar, reduced liquidity and stock market gyrations all combining to weigh on the base metals complex. Copper for March settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange was recently down 2.85 cents or 0.92% to $3.0535 per lb. This morning, the contract fell to $3.0475,...Read More
Chile's copper mine production fell 0.9% in 2017, mostly affected by strike action at BHP-operated Escondida mine. The country's total output came to 5.5 million tonnes, against 5.55 million in 2016, according to figures from the Chilean copper commission, Cochilco. Concentrates accounted for 3.92 million tonnes of copper produced last year, from 3.89 million tonnes in...Read More
The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Friday February 9.Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were down across the board during morning trading following a significant rise in aluminium and copper stocks. Here's how LME base metals prices looked at 12:11 London time:Read our live futures report here. "Base metals are likely to enjoy renewed...Read More
The London Metal Exchange's average daily volume (ADV) was little changed for January 2018 when compared with the previous year, but only when you take into account trading changes due to the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) II.The headline ADV figure for January 2018 is 712,722 lots per day, which appears to be a huge increase on face value compared with 619,524 lots in January...Read More
Rebar prices in Argentina increased this month, as long steel producers made an adjustment due to cost increases, sources told Metal Bulletin. Metal Bulletin's weekly assessment of Argentina's domestic rebar went up to $860-865 per tonne ex-works on Friday February 9 from $840-850 per tonne ex-works the previous month. Prices of other long steel products, such as bars, have risen this month by 4-5...Read More
Brazilian flat steel and iron ore producer Usiminas has begun looking into investment in a new galvanizing unit, if the recovery of the Brazilian economy is confirmed.The reason is the strong demand for galvanized products in the Brazilian market, chief executive officer Sergio Leite told analysts during a conference call on Friday February 9."We have started preliminary studies...Read More
The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for hot-rolled coil, cold-rolled coil, hot-dipped galvanized coil, pre-painted galvanized iron, steel plate, steel sheet and other flat steel products. Latest transactions: HRC, CRC, HDG, PPGIHot-rolled coilTurkey, domestic, hot-rolled coil, offered at $640 per tonne ex-works, April production.Turkey, export, hot-rolled coil, offered at $620-...Read More
Metal Bulletin reviews the major stories that have affected the steel market over the past week.Both the iron ore and coking coal markets became quieter on Friday due to a slowdown in trading activity ahead of the Chinese lunar new year holiday.Metal Bulletin's 62% Fe Iron Ore Index ended the week at less than $77 per tonne, while Metal Bulletin's coal indices were flat at $199.42 per tonne cfr Ch...Read More
Brazilian steel and iron ore producer Usiminas is trying to apply a 20% increase in prices for its flat steel products to industrial clients, chief executive officer S?(C)rgio Leite said on Friday February 9.The move follows an increase of around 20% in annual price contracts with carmakers."We concluded negotiations in late December with carmakers, regarding our pricing contracts in 2018, and we...Read More
Indian domestic hot rolled coil prices continued to be stable over the past week, even though there was a shortage in local markets.The absence of imported HRC in the domestic market has aggravated the shortfall as most importers have been left with negligible HRC stocks from their earlier imports. "Chinese commercial grade HRC continues to be commercially unviable for import while there...Read More