The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.The recent decline in Chinese scrap prices - to their lowest in a couple of years - even as demand rises, suggests that Chinese scrap supply is increasingly sufficient. In terms of scrap demand, the question is more about price attractiveness. Mini-mills were reducing demand in February, largely because steel margins on scra...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.While downward pressure mounts on the steelmaking raw material markets, premiums for higher-grade iron ores have been sustained despite narrowing operating margins at Chinese steelmakers. Chinese mills are operating with shrinking margins since the end of last year but the premium for high-grade ores remains high. Historical...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This week Fastmarkets' analysts and price reporters shared their views and recent findings in a webinar revealing some distinct fundamental tensions for steel, refining alloys and, of course, steelmaking raw materials such as iron ore.While the outlook for chrome and manganese ores and alloys is balanced, as far as market pa...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Stainless steel prices have fared relatively well over the past couple of months in the face of the threat from the Covid-19 pandemic.In grade-304 material, the most common grade of stainless steel, prices were down by about 5-7% since the turn of the year - not bad, when compared with the falls in prices of other assets so f...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Having first hit Asia during early 2020, the Covid-19 viral outbreak is now having an even bigger impact on European countries and the US. Widespread lockdown measures have been put in place on people and industry, and economic activity has slowed markedly.For now, stainless steel markets in Europe and the US are yet to show...Read More
Chile saw a 4.5% year-on-year increase in copper production during March despite some difficulties faced by the industry due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Chilean copper commission Cochilco said on Thursday May 7.The country produced 494,700 tonnes of copper content in March compared with 473,300 tonnes in the corresponding month of 2019. Most of the major local mines increased output during the afore...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their price moves from the past week.Read More
Copper rod consumers in the United States are canceling orders as the Covid-19 pandemic has dampened short-term demand for the commodity.Fastmarkets assessed the copper rod premium, ddp Midwest US at 16-18 cents per lb on Thursday May 7, down by 1 cent from 17-19 cents per lb previously.End consumers of copper rod, especially those exposed to the automotive sector, have seen a significant fall in...Read More
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, De Beers Group Institute of Diamonds, the diamond mining company’s education and training entity, is providing free access to its Diamond Foundation Course.The decision was taken to offer support and “play a small part” in helping those who are working from home or are in self-isolation to “stay connected to their industry” during...Read More
Rio Tinto is partnering on a project to develop a zero-emission bus made of aluminium, which will be tested in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec, Canada, next year. The bus, known as the Electrip, is fully electric and made with aluminium, Rio Tinto director of regional economic development Emmanuel Bergeron said, noting that it also offers greater accessibility for people with reduced...Read More
With the exception of that for zinc and nickel, deliverable base metals stocks at Shanghai Futures Exchange-approved warehouses all fell in the week ended Friday May 8.Copper registered the largest decline in inventories in percentage terms, with total SHFE stocks declining to 204,219 tonnes on Friday; this marks a decrease of 26,737 tonnes (11.6%) from the 230,956 tonnes recorded on April 30. ...Read More
Access our research platformsSign-in to our platforms to access our extensive research, our latest insight, data and analytics and to connect to our industry experts.The global crude landscape is being upended by surging US crude oil production flowing into international markets.The North America Crude Markets Service provides context and crude oil analysis of the entire US crude value chain - fro...Read More
Automotive production in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina neared zero in April due to massive shutdowns stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, affecting steel and scrap markets in each country.BrazilProduction in Brazil hit a record low of only 1,800 units, according to data released by national auto association Anfavea on Friday May 8, a decline of 99.3% from 267,600 units in April 2019."Carm...Read More
Brazilian slab export prices were stable during the week to Friday May 8, with fewer offers reported due to production cuts.Fastmarkets assessed the price for steel slab export, fob main port Brazil unchanged at $330-345 per tonne fob on May 8.Lower availability of slab continued to prevent price cuts during the week, with most producers' order books...Read More
Trading activity in China's domestic hot-rolled coil market thinned as prices strengthened on Friday May 8, while the country's demand for imports appeared to have led to higher offers for Indian HRC.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,380-3,390 yuan ($477-478) per tonne, up 10-40 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,340 yuan per tonne, unchangedA Shanghai-based trader said sellers kept thei...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices continued to strengthen on Friday May 8 on steady demand and rising futures. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,500-3,540 yuan ($494-499) per tonne, up by 50 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing) - weekly assessment: 3,450-3,500 yuan per tonne, up by 60 yuan per tonne Contractors maintained their active procurement rates to meet their daily use, sources said....Read More
Prices in Southeast Asia's steel billet market climbed over the past week due to surging demand from Chinese importers, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' daily price assessment for steel billet, import, cfr Southeast Asia, which mainly looks at 120-150mm 5sp grade billet sold into the Philippines, was $370-375 per tonne on Friday May 8, up by $5 per tonne from $365-370 per tonne on May 6.Befor...Read More
Editor's Note: Mining Journal is making some of its most important coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic freely available to readers. For more coverage, please see our COVID-19 hub. To subscribe to Mining Journal, click here.Reactivated works include the Chuquicamata underground mine development and a new mine level at the El Teniente mine, both of which are about 50% complete. Early works a...Read More
Prices for pig iron in the United States increased further during the week ended Friday May 8 due to new deals and a stronger scrap market.Fastmarkets' price assessment for pig iron, import, cfr Gulf of Mexico, US was $304-305 per tonne on Friday, up from $295-300 per tonne one week earlier.Fresh bookings for pig iron from the Commonwealth of Independent States were completed at $304-305...Read More
The market for pig iron exports from Brazil improved on new sales to the United States and China during the week ended Friday May 8.Fastmarkets' price assessment for pig iron, export, fob port of Vitoria/Rio, Brazil was $275-280 per tonne on Friday, narrowing upward from $270-280 per tonne a week earlier.A sale of high-phosphorous pig iron was concluded...Read More