Brazilian iron ore exports totaled 31.33 million tonnes in August, down by 7.4% from 33.82 million tonnes a year earlier, the country's ministry of economy said on Tuesday September 1.Part of the decrease was explained by August having 21 working days in 2020 versus 22 working days in the same month last year. Daily average exports were 1.49 million tonnes, down by 2.96% from 1.54 million tonnes i...Read More
ArcelorMittal is preparing to restart two blast furnaces at its Asturias plant in Spain and Fos-sur-Mer plant in France this month, the company said on Tuesday September 1. The decision to bring the capacities back is connected to the relining of a BF at ArcelorMittal Gent in Belgium, the company said. ArcelorMittal Fos-sur-Mer The company will resume operations at BF No1 at Fos-sur-Mer plant in t...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday August 31 that are worth another look.The United States' government has reduced the Section 232 quota for imports of semi-finished steel products from Brazil in the fourth quarter, according to a proclamation from president Donald Trump published late on Friday August...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday September 1 that are worth another look.ArcelorMittal is preparing to restart two blast furnaces at its Asturias plant in Spain and Fos-sur-Mer plant in France this month, the company said on September 1.Zinc concentrate treatment charges...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key ferro-alloy forecast highlights:Prices across most ferro-alloy markets trended stable to lower in August as demand remained subdued in major markets, apart from China where steel output continues to rise at a rapid pace, supporting demand for ferro-alloys. As alloy makers seek to remedy supply/demand imbalan...Read More
Aluminium premiums in Europe and Asia rose on Tuesday September 1 due to improving fundamentals and a consistently wide contango on the London Metal Exchange, while the premium in the United States fell ahead of a national holiday next week. Stronger demand and a wide contango help to boost premiums in EuropeHigher fourth-quarter premiums and domestic demand support increases i...Read More
Brazilian iron ore exports totaled 31.33 million tonnes in August, down by 7.4% from 33.82 million tonnes a year earlier, the country's ministry of economy said on Tuesday September 1.Part of the decrease was explained by August having 21 working days in 2020 versus 22 working days in the same month last year. Daily average exports were 1.49 million tonnes, down by 2.96% from 1.54 million tonnes i...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday September 1 that are worth another look.ArcelorMittal is preparing to restart two blast furnaces at its Asturias plant in Spain and Fos-sur-Mer plant in France this month, the company said on September 1.Zinc concentrate treatment charges...Read More
Market participants believe iron ore concentrate premiums - rather than those for high-grade fines - will improve closer to the onset of winter when Chinese steelmakers start to adapt to strict anti-pollution measures imposed by authorities.Sintering restrictions usually cause demand for iron ore fines to fall compared to cleaner ore types. This is due to the higher levels of particulate pollution...Read More
Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were broadly trending upward during the afternoon session on Tuesday September 1, rallying on better data for the China purchasing managers' index (PMI) and a weak US dollar.The base-metals complex continued its recent macro-following trend on Tuesday, rising on hopes of greater Chinese demand with the region's manufacturing figures going...Read More
Seaborne premium hard coking coal prices moved in different directions on Tuesday September 1, reflecting more activity in the fob market compared with the cfr market. Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $106.07 per tonne, up $0.48 per tonne Premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $114.49 per tonne, down $0.34 per tonneHard coking coal, fob DBCT: $85.76 per tonne,...Read More
This is a very clear sign that there is VERY LITTLE silver available for delivery, and now the question is WILL THEY SHORT ON THE RISE AGAIN...?!?by Bix Weir of Road to RootaThe Silver Chaos of Naked Shorts heading into Sept Deliveries seems to have subsided after the Banks took MASSIVE LOSSES in closing out their short positions at the end of last week. This is a very clear sign that there is VER...Read More
It should be fun to watch...by Harvey Organ of Harvey Organ BlogAUGUST 31//GOLD UP $5.90 TO $1965.60//SILVER UP 80 CENTS (EX LONDON)//INITIAL SILVER OZ STANDING FOR SEPT: 52 MILLION OZ//A VERY STRONG 9.5 TONNES OF GOLD STANDING AT THE GOLD COMEX FOR SEPT/CHINA VS USA ESCALATION//CORONAVIRUS UPDATES SAT, SUN AND TODAY//OHIO FIREFIGHTER AND POLICE PENSION FUNDS WILL NOW INCLUDE 5% GOLD///RIOTING CON...Read More
Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were collectively higher during morning trading on Tuesday September 1, with both nickel and zinc prices leading the way with 2.5% increases on high turnover, while positive manufacturing data out of Europe this morning bolstered buying momentum further. Nickel's outright price on the LME was recently at $15,715 per tonne, climbing 2.58%...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key ferro-alloy forecast highlights:Prices across most ferro-alloy markets trended stable to lower in August as demand remained subdued in major markets, apart from China where steel output continues to rise at a rapid pace, supporting demand for ferro-alloys. As alloy makers seek to remedy supply/demand imbalan...Read More
RAPAPORT... Trans Atlantic Gem Sales (TAGS) held its first live tender of rough diamonds in Dubai since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with participation from nearly 100 companies.TAGS presented "high-quality" rough from mines in South Africa, Angola and Namibia worth approximately $30 million to $35 million, it said Tuesday. Some 90% of those goods sold by value. TAGS held its last live t...Read More
Ferrous scrap prices in Mexico were mostly unchanged in the week ended Friday August 28 amid steady demand, particularly in the country's central region.No major price changes were announced, with some market participants still adjusting to price increases in earlier weeks.Fastmarkets' assessment of steel scrap No1 busheling, consumer buying price, delivered mill Bajio was at 5,950 pesos per...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Hong Kong show usually scheduled for September will take place in an online-only format this year due to the coronavirus.Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong, formerly the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, was initially rescheduled to November because of the pandemic. However, organizer Informa Markets has now canceled the physical event entirely, and will inst...Read More
RAPAPORT... Sales of jewelry and other luxury items in Hong Kong plunged in Julyamid a continued lack of tourism and a resurgence in coronavirus cases.Revenue from jewelry, watches, clocks and other valuable gifts slid 54% year on year to HKD 2.55 billion ($328.5 million) for the month. While the figure was an improvement over the previous month, the lingering effects on the trade continued to be...Read More
RAPAPORT... Gem Diamonds has unearthed a high-quality, 233-carat, type II diamond from its Let??eng mine in Lesotho, the company said TuesdayThe discovery is the fifth rough stone over 100 carats that Let??eng has yielded this year, according to Rapaport records. It follows that of a 442-carat, type II diamond that was recovered on August 23, the company said Tuesday. That stone is one of the larg...Read More