European buyers of hot-rolled coil have been holding back from making deals for material, awaiting the European's Commission decision on import safeguard measures and clarity in the global market, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday June 16.Some buyers were still willing to accept current offer prices if they needed to restock specific materials, or if they were able to secure back-to-back deals...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday June 16 that are worth another look.European non-integrated steel traders and wire rod processors strongly oppose the European Commission's proposal to extend import safeguard measures for three more years, claiming that the decision neglects the interests of...Read More

London Metal Exchange ring dealing members have a decision to make - whether to remain one or not.The LME has just announced it will reopen the open outcry trading floor, which was temporarily closed due to Covid-19, on September 6.Its plan, however, comes with a twist; some ring dealers say, a knife.The official prices - which the global trade and industry use as the global reference for physical...Read More

Technology entrepreneur Elon Musk once described the ongoing use of fossil fuels and their generation of a vast carbon footprint as "the dumbest experiment in human history."Not everyone will agree with his assessment of the petroleum, gas and coal sectors, which have powered the world's growth for decades. Nonetheless, the twin goals of supply chain security and sustainability are now driving a t...Read More

Bill Gates has a theory about green premiums: He wants to eliminate them entirely. The American business magnate and philanthropist calls green premiums the additional cost of choosing a clean technology over one that emits a greater amount of greenhouse gases.In other words, the price that metals and mining companies are starting to charge their customers for producing low-carbon produc...Read More

The gap between lithium spot and contract prices has narrowed significantly in 2021 as a result of tight availability along the lithium supply chain and price evolution, market sources said.For example, Fastmarkets' monthly assessment of the lithium hydroxide monohydrate 56.5% LiOH.H2O min, battery grade, contract price cif China, Japan & Korea was $12.50-13.50 per kg on May 26, an increase of $1...Read More

Powell has just come out cheerleading and pumping the super-duper US economic recovery like never before... *****UPDATE (by Half Dollar): Initial thoughts are that Powell has come out full bull on the US markets and economy, or, at least as much of a bull as he can appear to be on Zoom.His lack of stuttering today as well as his use of qualifiers such as "very, very strong labor market" make for a...Read More

Price movements on the London Metal Exchange futures complex were mixed at the close of trading on Wednesday June 16, but were within the range of its Tuesday prices ahead of the US Federal Reserve's statement later in the day.Copper's three-month price, which fell by 4% on Tuesday to $9,569.50 per tonne, strengthened by 1% on Wednesday at 5pm to $9,667 per tonne. Its intraday low of $9,489 per to...Read More

The bullish triangle pattern in silver now mirrors 2009 before the breakout to...Chris Vermeulen with Patrick V. on Silver Bullion TVChris Vermeulen, founder of Technical Traders Ltd, joins us on Metal Money as we discuss how the bullish triangle pattern in silver now mirrors 2009 before the breakout to the 2011 silver price peak. Read More

Low offers for seaborne premium hard coking coal caused prices to drop in the cfr market on Wednesday June 16, while hard coking coal fob rose on buying interest.High transaction prices and positive market sentiment are supporting the fob market, sources said.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $173.86 per tonne, up $1.59 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $282.04...Read More

China's domestic rebar prices continued to fall on Wednesday June 16 due to sellers looking to destock.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,980-5,010 yuan ($778-783) per tonne, down by 70 yuan per tonne.Fear of further drops in end-user demand and the decline in futures prices have strengthened sellers' desire to run down...Read More

Zinc producers in China's southwestern province of Yunnan should be able to fully resume their operations by mid-June, sources said.Yunnan will remove its power restrictions by the end of June that have stunted local zinc output, the provincial energy bureau said.A few zinc smelters in Yunnan have already resumed production, however, sources that spoke to Fastmarkets said.Production capa...Read More

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.As we approach the end of the first half of 2021, steel markets in Europe and the United States continue to heat up. This six-month period is largely unprecedented, with both steel prices and steelmakers' margins hitting a number of new record highs throughout.The rally is likely nearing its end, however, with global steel ou...Read More

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key North American steel forecast highlights:?EUR?  US sheet prices hit record highs again in May, with upward momentum persisting into June. Actual US hot-rolled coil prices averaged $1,553 per ton in May, largely in line with our forecast of $1,540 per ton. Prices remain supported by strong underlying sup...Read More

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.United States sheet prices hit record highs again in May, with upward momentum carrying into June. Actual US HRC prices averaged $1,712 per tonne in May, largely in line with our forecast of $1,698 per tonne. Strong underlying supply-and-demand conditions both in the US and globally are supporting prices as well as long lead...Read More

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Global welded pipe prices surged in May as strong demand and still-insufficient supply lifted flat steel prices.The biggest jumps were seen in China, which was hit by the unexpected announcement of the elimination of export rebates on welded pipes in April. Chinese seaborne prices reached $1,570 per tonne fob for longitudina...Read More

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Bulk ferro-alloy prices have shown impressive gains again this month, with ferro-silicon, silicon metal and manganese alloy prices all making significant increases. Noble alloy markets also enjoyed upward momentum, with both vanadium and molybdenum prices rising sharply.Recovering demand from steelmakers globally, together w...Read More

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Recent weeks have brought two key developments with regard to trade policy on stainless steel products that will be to the detriment of consumers.In China, the country's stainless steelmakers no longer enjoy a 13% export rebate as of May 1, reducing greatly their incentive to export and instead leading them to focus on supply...Read More

RAPAPORT... Shipments of polished diamonds out of India increased year on year in May, albeit at a gentler pace than in April, according to data the country's Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) released this week. Rough imports jumped more than sevenfold, reflecting a comparison with the peak of the coronavirus crisis in 2020.India Trade Data for May 2021  Read More

RAPAPORT... The luxury jewelry and watch industries are set to recover gradually over the next four years, led by strong growth among Chinese consumers, according to McKinsey and Company."We expect demand to increase from younger consumers as well as in domestic markets amid continuing restrictions on international travel and the rise of domestic duty-free zones in China," McKinsey said this week...Read More