Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for MB-AL-0005 aluminium pressure diecasting ingot DIN226/A380, delivered Europe, and MB-AL-0040 aluminum alloy A380.1, delivered Midwest, as part of a methodology review process to meet the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) principles.This consultation, which is open until August 18, seeks to...Read More

Base metals prices were up across the board at the 5pm close of trading on the London Metal Exchange on Thursday July 22, with the market appearing to calm down after a recent period of choppy trading."Two positive macro dynamics were at work this morning, and have provided the LME base metals with much-needed support," Fastmarkets analyst Andy Farida said on Thursday."The US Dollar Index has star...Read More

Freeport McMoRan's subsidiary PT-Freeport Indonesia (PT-FI) is advancing agreements to expand its Gresik copper smelter and refinery by 30% and plans to up its stake in PT Smelting to a majority interest, the company said. The expansion is targeted for completion by the end of 2023 and will see annual capacity at PT Smelting - in which PT-FI currently has a 39.5% stake - increase by 300,000 tonnes...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday July 22 that are worth another look.Production of steel will be halted for at least two weeks in the key Bangladesh market when the country's latest Covid-19-related lockdown starts on Friday July 23, sources have told Fastmarkets.Read More

The world's largest carbon trading market is slowly gaining momentum and will eventually be a key component of China's ferrous industry, market sources told Fastmarkets this week.China kicked off nationwide carbon trading on July 16, with mostly thermal coal-fired power plants participating on the first day. Companies can buy carbon emission quotas from the market, while those with lower emissions...Read More

Base metals prices were up across the board at the 5pm close of trading on the London Metal Exchange on Thursday July 22, with the market appearing to calm down after a recent period of choppy trading."Two positive macro dynamics were at work this morning, and have provided the LME base metals with much-needed support," Fastmarkets analyst Andy Farida said on Thursday."The US Dollar Index has star...Read More

Iron ore prices fell on Thursday July 22 amid a weak short-term demand outlook, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $202.63 per tonne, down $12.16 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $204.62 per tonne, down $11.55 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $166.88 per tonne, down $9.56 per tonne65% Fe Brazil-origin fines, cfr Qin...Read More

China's domestic hot-rolled coil prices edged lower on Thursday July 22 after market participants reacted to Beijing's latest efforts to stabilize commodity prices.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,800-5,900 yuan ($897-912) per tonne, widening by 20-60 yuan per tonneThe most-traded HRC contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange touched an intraday low of 5,802 yuan per tonne in early afternoon tr...Read More

Export billet prices from the Commonwealth of Independent States increased toward the end of the week after several bookings done at higher prices came to light, sources told Fastmarkets.The Middle East-North Africa (Mena) region including Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) were not present in the market in the week to Thursday July 22 due to celebrations for the Eid Al-Adha Islami...Read More

Market upbeat despite summer lull and high rough prices. Dealers filling orders, spurring confidence for holiday season. US jewelry sales +108% in June, Mastercard reports. Luxury jewelers make strong recovery. Richemont 1Q jewelry maisons' sales +132% to $3B. Polished prices firm amid supply shortages and consistent demand. Miners drastically reduced rough inventory in 1H; manufacturers raised po...Read More

Fastmarkets has corrected its alumina index, fob Australia, which was published incorrectly on Tuesday July 20 and Wednesday July 21 due to an index calculation error.On July 20, the alumina index, fob Australia, should have been $289.74 per tonne but was incorrectly published as $289.62 per tonne.On July 21, the alumina index, fob Australia, should have been $291.11 per tonne but was incorrectly...Read More

RAPAPORT... Petra Diamonds' sales accelerated in the past fiscal year as the market improved and discoveries of high-value stones paid off.Revenue jumped 38% to $406.9 million for the 12 months ending June 30, the miner reported Wednesday. Sales volume rose 37% to 4 million carats.The company, which operates the Cullinan, Finsch and Koffiefontein mines in South Africa, attributed the growth t...Read More

(IDEX Online) -  Signet is aiming for full gender parity among its corporate leadership.The US jeweler already has a female CEO, and women account for 42 per cent of its board of directors, 50 per cent of its leadership team and 40 per cent of those holding the title vice president and above.It is joining the Paradigm for Parity coalition, which is committed to all women and men having equal...Read More

(IDEX Online) - A diamond manufacturer in Surat was re-united with a box of rough stones worth $27,000 that he left behind at a safety deposit vault.Rahul Moradiya placed it on top of his locker at Katargam Safe, in the Kartargam area of the city, then forgot about it.The manager spotted the box that evening and put it in safe place. Moradiya, who runs a small unit in Bambawadi, returned the...Read More

(IDEX Online) - A bogus gemologist swapped diamonds valued at $7.8m for worthless pebbles in an audacious heist, a court in London has heard.Lulu Lakatos, 60, is alleged to have examined the gems at luxury Mayfair jeweler Boodles (pictured) on behalf of a group posing as wealthy Russian buyers.She then placed the locked purse containing seven diamonds into her handbag, Southwark Crown Court was to...Read More

RAPAPORT... Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL) will work with Everledger to share provenance and grading data that will help bring increased accountability to diamond sourcing.Through the partnership, the grading lab will be able to search Everledger's provenance information, GCAL said Tuesday. Meanwhile, the blockchain provider will gain access to GCAL's certification data and photos, g...Read More

RAPAPORT... Among the challenges of assessing the lab-grown diamond market is the lack of published data on the sector. That's largely because none of the companies operating in the space are publicly traded, which would require them to disclose metrics such as sales, profit and production. It's largely through public reports by miners such as Alrosa, De Beers (via Anglo American), Petra Diam...Read More

A large-scale expansion at Freeport-McMoRan's El Abra copper mine in Chile is still being evaluated, although potential changes to the country's fiscal regime could lead to its deferment, the US copper producer said.The expansion would see the plant in northern Chile process additional sulfide material and achieve higher levels of copper recovery. According to Freeport, El Abra's large sulfide res...Read More

RAPAPORT... Swiss watch exports exceeded pre-pandemic levels in June amid a recovery in the US and China and strong demand for high-priced timepieces.Global shipments rose 13% compared to the same month of 2019, reaching CHF 1.96 billion ($2.14 billion), the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry said Tuesday. Exports jumped 71% year on year, reflecting a favorable comparison with the Covid-19 dow...Read More

United States copper producer Freeport-McMoRan reiterated its 2021 consolidated sales target of around 3.85 billion lbs (1.75 million tonnes) of copper while its ramp-up to underground mining at its Grasberg mine in Indonesia continues.This is an increase from 3.2 billion lbs - or 1.4 million tonnes - in 2020, and comes after the company reported lower second quarter copper sales than previously e...Read More