The platform, which monitors about 90% of global copper and nickel smelting activity, said along with seasonal maintenance, there had been extended downtime as copper smelters waited for expected higher treatment and refining charges later this year.It said there had been a significant reduction in activity in south central China, which was put down to recent flooding and power restriction directi...Read More

U.S. equity index futures were mixed this morning. S&P 500 futures were unchanged in pre-opening trade.The Canadian Dollar was virtually unchanged at US78.97 cents prior to the Bank of Canada's update on Canada's monetary policy at 10:00 AM EDT. Consensus expects no change in Canada's overnight lending rate to major Canadian Banks.PayPal added $4.13 to $297.39 after announcing purchase of a Ja...Read More

Domestic cut and shredded scrap prices in the export-dependent regions of the United States' ferrous scrap market could face further drops in October, pressured by an ongoing decline in US export markets.Plunging prices for US deep-sea cargo exports to Turkey, caused by weakening demand, are reportedly dictating the direction of prices in export-influenced domestic markets, such as Philadelph...Read More

The stainless steel scrap market in the United States seems to have cooled off slightly over this past week because demand for September was slightly weaker, but the bellwether Type 304 stainless solids price continued to increase."It feels like some of the processors are holding back on prices. It seems like there is one buyer every week chasing units [of 304 stainless scrap] and paying higher th...Read More

Turkish steelmakers went quiet in the deep-sea ferrous scrap markets once again after booking a number of cargoes for October shipment earlier this week, market participants said on Wednesday September 8.Three steel producers did book four deep-sea cargoes from various locations on Tuesday September 7. But weak demand for Turkish long steel products in the export markets has been keeping Turk...Read More

Selling prices for Japanese steel scrap remain more attractive in the Japanese local market than exporting overseas, despite a fresh price cut by Tokyo Steel, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday September 8.Tokyo Steel reduces scrap buy prices at key millTaiwan pays higher prices for containerized scrap amid rising logistics costs and lack of vesselsWide gaps between bids and offers persists in...Read More

The price of premium hard coking coal fob jumped on Wednesday September 8 with news of a fresh offer, while sources heard part of the tender result of Russian company Mechel.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $460.63 per tonne, up $2.82 per tonneHard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $433.94 per tonne, up $2.52 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $300.87 per tonne, up $17...Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices decreased on Wednesday September 8 due to limited liquidity in the physical market, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $132.19 per tonne, down by $5.78 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $133.29 per tonne, down by $4.81 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $106.66 per tonne, down by $4.03 per tonne...Read More

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Domestic hot-rolled coil prices in China edged lower on Wednesday September 8; demand has not yet shown a significant improvement despite the advent of peak season.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,750-5,820 yuan ($890-901) per tonne, down by 30-50 yuan per tonneThe most-traded HRC contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange climbed up after touching an intraday low of 5,674 yuan per tonne in over...Read More

The latest analysis from recent activity on the CME Group's cobalt metal futures contract, cash-settled against Fastmarkets' price assessment for cobalt, standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam.Key tradesJuly 22, 2021: 5 tonnes for August 2021 at $25 per lbJuly 23: 5 tonnes for September 2021 at $25.20 per lbJuly 28: 176 tonnes (88 tonnes for August at $25.04 per lb; 88 tonnes for December at $25.40 per...Read More

China's domestic rebar prices decreased on Wednesday September 8 after sellers lowered their offers to encourage sales following two days of weak demand.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,300-5,350 yuan ($820-828) per tonne, down by 20 yuan per tonneSellers dropped their offer prices for rebar on Wednesday morning to improves sales volumes, but buyers asked for even lower...Read More

Mining Journal's Chris Cann speaks with Midnight Sun chief executive Al Fabbro about the work programme Rio Tinto is currently funding and running to earn its exposure to the Solwezi copper-cobalt project in Zambia.Fabbro also addresses the issue of managing risk in one of Africa's traditional mining strongholds.Read More

Fastmarkets has corrected the pricing rationale for MB-CO-0004 - cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb, which was published incorrectly on Wednesday September 8 due to a reporting team error.One bid of $23.80/lb, which was reported by a seller, was incorrectly reported at $24.80/lb.Fastmarkets' rationale database has been updated to reflect this change. There is no change to the final assessm...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...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.Fastmarkets assessed Cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb at 23.70-24.60 on Wednesday September 08,...Read More

The Cobalt sulfate 20.5% Co basis, exw China, yuan/tonne 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.Read More

The Cobalt hydroxide payable indicator, min 30% Co, cif China, % payable of Fastmarkets' standard-grade cobalt price (low-end) 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 hydroxide p...Read More

Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday September 8.Key driversThe spot price range for ferro-titanium consolidated higher in the week to Wednesday September 8, cementing a small gain from the week prior.Suppliers reported low-key but steady buying interest from steelmakers, and there are bigger tenders to be concluded for hundreds of tonnes being delivered in the fourth...Read More

The Russian government is proposing to abolish or reduce its recently-imposed export taxes on ferro-alloys - with the exception of ferro-silicon - in a surprise decision announced on Tuesday September 7. No firm date was given for the introduction of the planned changes.The Russian government introduced duties on 340 steel and non-ferrous metals outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in June 2...Read More