The refined zinc and lead markets were in relative balance over January to April, with both metals notching small surpluses, the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) said on June 21.Supply exceeded demand for refined zinc by 31,000 tonnes in the first four months of 2021, while lead's surplus...Read More

Russian based mining company Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel) will begin to ship the first batches of carbon-neutral nickel to customers in the coming weeks, the company said on Monday June 21.The company announced that they are taking steps to mitigate their carbon footprint, which includes efforts to cut CO2 emissions across the whole production chain as well as upgrading and investing in energy moder...Read More

Lundin Mining has cut its expectation for copper produced at its Candalaria mine in Chile by 13.8%, and output may be affected for years to come, the company said on June 21.Candalaria's copper output will be 150,000-155,000 tonnes in 2021, down from a previous forecast of 172,000-182,000 tonnes, the company said. At 85,000-90,000 ounces, gold production will be down by 10.3%.Taking the high-end o...Read More

Nickel was the only metal to show a slight increase in morning trading on the London Metal Exchange on Monday June 21, with all other base metals prices continuing to decline.Nickel's price was$17,285 per tonne at 9am on Monday, up 0.8% from Friday's closing price of$17,154 per tonne.On Friday, however, the nickel price was down 7.2% from last Monday's close of $18,480 per tonne, with only co...Read More

The price of nickel sulfate in China widened downward in the week to Friday June 18, amid falling nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange, leaving market sentiment cautious, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' price assessment for nickel sulfate min 21%, max 22.5%, cobalt 10ppm max, exw China, was 33,000-34,000 yuan ($5,102-5,256) per tonne on June 18, down by 500 yuan per tonne (0.7%) from 3...Read More

Special bar quality (SBQ) steel prices increased in the United States in June on higher mill base prices and increased surcharges while some mills continued to sell forward production for a number of SBQ products to the end of the year, according to market participants.Fastmarkets' assessment for steel bar hot-rolled special bar quality 1-inch round 1000 series (carbon), fob mill US was at $61.50...Read More

Domestic prices for steel rebar in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow remained firm in the week to June 21 with good demand from construction, sources told Fastmarkets.July rebar offers to traders from local mills ranged from 69,500-71,000 roubles ($954-975) per tonne cpt in the week to June 21, largely unchanged from June offers, sources said.Tula Steel...Read More

China's domestic hot-rolled coil prices fell sharply on Monday June 21, after iron ore futures led a tumble across the ferrous complex following Beijing's latest attempt to keep markets stable.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,360-5,430 yuan ($829-840) per tonne, down by 100-140 yuan per tonne.Ferrous futures losses accelerated in the afternoon trading session after market participants reacted t...Read More

World manganese ore production will increase by 7.60 million tonnes (13%) in 2021, reflecting a post-pandemic recovery in production and new mining projects mainly in Africa and Australia, according to Eva Yang, China representative at the International Manganese Institute (IMnI). Speaking at the International Ferro-alloys and Mineral Products Summit held by Ferroalloy.net on Friday June 18, Yang...Read More

Turkish steel producers started the week with no new bookings on Monday June 21 amid limited finished steel demand, especially in the export markets, sources told Fastmarkets.The most recent deals were heard on Tuesday June 15 when two United States cargoes were sold.A mill in the Marmara region bought those cargoes, which comprised heavy melting scrap 1&2 (80:20) at $500 and $501 per tonne, plus...Read More

Seaborne coking coal prices increased in the cfr market on Monday July 21 after more coal mines in China shut until July 1 or July 15, while the fob market stayed largely stable, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $177.28 per tonne, down $0.56 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $288.66 per tonne, up $3.62 per tonneHard coking coal, fob DBC...Read More

Iron ore prices fell across the board on Monday June 21 because limited demand for steel weakened sentiment for the steelmaking raw material, sources said. Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $208.15 per tonne, down $10.75 per tonne 62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $210.00 per tonne, down $10.24 per tonne 58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $175.53 per tonne, do...Read More

Fastmarkets has corrected its PCI low-vol cfr Jingtang index, which was published incorrectly on Friday June 18 due to an error.Fastmarkets' weekly index of PCI low-vol cfr Jingtang (MB-COA-0007) on June 18 was published as $171.47 per dry metric tonne. The price should have been $171.34 per dry metric tonne.Fastmarkets' pricing database, MInD, has been updated to reflect this change.To provi...Read More

U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 16 points in pre-opening trade.Kroger added $0.06 to $38.81 after Deutsche Bank raised its target price from $36 to $41.ConocoPhillips gained $0.29 to $57.82 after Mizuho raised its target price from $73 to $82.Amazon advanced $7.02 to $3,493.92 in anticipation of a successful two day Prime Day marketing program launch...Read More

China's domestic rebar prices fell sharply on Monday June 21 amid weaker demand and declining iron ore futures.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,880-4,920 yuan ($754-761) per tonne, down 80-90 yuan per tonne Some construction projects in several major Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, have stopped work ahead of July 1 celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of th...Read More

Prices for seaborne iron ore pellets and concentrate increased again in the week ended Friday June 18 amid an uptrend in the high-grade fines segment.Fastmarkets iron ore indicesIron ore pellet premium over 65% Fe fines, cfr China: $62.40 per tonne, down $0.40 per tonne. 65% Fe blast furnace pellet, cfr Qingdao: $304.92 per tonne, up $7.23 per tonne.66% Fe concentrate, cfr Qingdao: $242.63 per ton...Read More

Singapore's DBS has commenced trading as a Category 4 member on the London Metal Exchange, the bank said on Monday June 21.It is the first bank in Asia to have a remote membership with the LME outside of London, it said."With the new membership, DBS' corporate clients in Singapore, China, India, Indonesia, Korea and Hong Kong will have access to a comprehensive suite of hedging and financial solut...Read More

The Cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed Cobalt standard grade, in-whs...Read More

The Cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lbtrade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Read More

Key data from the Friday June 18 pricing session in China.Key drivers Spot cobalt metal price moved up amid strengthening futures market and continuing increases in the international benchmark metal price. Buyers sent more inquiries, but buying activities remained thin.Cobalt tetroxide prices were mostly rangebound, but more producers have started...Read More