The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China has weakened the country's rebar market in recent weeks, sending prices to their lowest in close to three years. Fastmarkets' February 11 assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar) domestic, ex-whs eastern China was 3,380-3,420 yuan ($485-490) per tonne, down 250-260 yuan per tonne from 3,640-3,670 yuan per tonne on January 23 - the last...Read More

"Relative to all asset classes, I can't think of one that is more undervalued than silver. If you look at..."David Morgan interviewed by Greg Hunter on USA WatchdogPrecious metals expert and financial writer David Morgan says silver is still 65% off its all-time high and is a much better value than gold. Morgan points out, "Relative to all asset classes, I can't think of one that is more undervalu...Read More

India's recently announced national budget got a mixed response from the country's steel sector, with some describing it as "disappointing" while others said it was "promising," sources told Fastmarkets.The Indian government's $428 billion budget for 2020-21 was presented on February 1.Part of the budget concerned the soon-to-be-launched National Logistics Policy, which will include various infras...Read More

The three-month price of copper on the London Metal Exchange edged higher at the close of trading on Wednesday February 12, staying firmly above the $5,700 per tonne support level despite low turnover, while nickel similarly held above nearby support.Copper's outright price on the LME closed at $5,764 per tonne on Wednesday afternoon, falling from an intraday high of $5,783 per tonne but topping T...Read More

Seaborne coking coal prices were steady on Wednesday February 12, with a premium mid-vol cargo fetching $150 per tonne fob Australia.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $152.29 per tonne, up $0.44 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $160.73 per tonne, unchangedHard coking coal, fob DBCT: $127.01 per tonne, unchangedHard coking...Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices remained firm on Wednesday February 12 following an announcement by Vale that it expects lower production for the quarter ending on March 31.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $87.68 per tonne, up $0.75 per tonne.62% Fe Pilbara Blend fines, cfr Qingdao: $87.01 per tonne, up $0.75 per tonne.62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $88.93 per tonne, up $0.7...Read More

An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for their latest price moves.Read More

EU domestic prices for hot-rolled coil have increased day on day due to tight supply from European mills and a lack of competitive alternatives from overseas, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday February 12.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, ex-works Northern Europe, was ?,?476.21 ($519.73) per tonne on Wednesday February 12, up by ?,?2.64 per tonne from ?,?473.57 per tonn...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday February 12 that are worth another look.China may not be the big steady steel rebar buyer that most of us in the market thought it was, the International Rebar Producers & Exporters Association (Irepas) said on February 5 with regards the impact of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).Major Chinese copper smelter Daye Nonferrous,...Read More

Nickel premiums in all regions held steady in the week to Tuesday February 11. European nickel premiums hold in illiquid spot market.  The US nickel briquette premium could rise further, though it was flat this week.  China nickel premiums were unchanged amid spot illiquidity on a closed arbitrage import window. Rotterdam nickel premiums stabilize in illiquid spot market Premiums for a...Read More

Brazilian multi-metal miner Vale has revised its 2020 nickel production guidance to 200,000-210-000 tonnes per year from 240,000 tpy previously amid its projected "exit" from the Vale New Caledonia (VNC) operations, the company announced on Tuesday February 11.The lower 2020 production guidance comes after Vale indicated that operations at VNC would cease entirely at the end of April 2020 while th...Read More

Major Chinese copper smelter Daye Nonferrous, at the heart of the region affected by the coronavirus outbreak, is managing to continue its copper production activities by destocking the sulfuric acid byproduct at a discount, Fastmarkets has learnt."We have no plans to declare force majeure so far," a source with direct knowledge of the matter said. "We are still receiving overseas shipments of cop...Read More

Demand for aluminium and steel coil in China has come under strain while the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) crisis has allowed the gears of the country's automotive sector to grind to a halt.Many manufacturing plants across China - including those in the automotive segment - have paused operations in the past two weeks to February 12 after the government extended workers' Lunar New Year holiday to...Read More

Rio Tinto will conduct a strategic review of its ISAL smelter in Iceland, due to high energy costs and historically low aluminium prices, the company said on Wednesday February 12."ISAL is expected to remain unprofitable in the short to medium term in the challenging conditions facing the aluminium industry, due to the smelter's uncompetitive energy costs and historically low aluminium prices," Ri...Read More

Martin Rapaport outlined his view of the diamond industry Monday on the opening day of International Diamond Week in Israel. The Rapaport Group chairman presented data showing a decline in the diamond market during 2019, and examined how it had impacted business throughout the distribution chain - miners, manufacturers, dealers, retailers and consumers. He concluded with a number of guidelines on...Read More

Hot-rolled coil prices declined further in the United States, with some mills aggressively pursuing spot market deals in order to fill their order books and some steel consumer sectors showing worse-than-expected first-quarter performance, market participants said.Fastmarkets' steel hot-rolled coil index, fob mill US was calculated at $28.79 per hundredweight ($575.80 per short ton) on W...Read More

RAPAPORT... US imports of polished diamonds slid 16% to $19.46 billion last year, reaching their lowest level since 2010. Shipments fell by value and volume, while the average price also declined. December was a relatively weak month, with imports falling at a steeper rate than for the full year. US Trade Data for December 2019Read More

RAPAPORT... India's diamond industry has asked banks and the government for help with its credit difficulties, as the coronavirus crisis has left clients in China and Hong Kong unable to pay bills.The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) wrote to 30 lenders and the commerce and finance ministries Tuesday, requesting more time to pay back loans and finalize other costs connected...Read More

RAPAPORT... Chow Tai Fook will temporarily suspend operations at more than 40 locations in Hong Kong and Macau following a rise in the coronavirus epidemic.The shutdown is a protective measure in the interest of public health and safety, as the risk of the virus spreading increases, the Hong Kong-based retailer told Rapaport News Tuesday. The company will also shorten its operating hours at t...Read More

The price difference between scrap and rebar for Turkish mills in January this year was at its narrowest since January 2019, the International Rebar Producers & Exporters Association (Irepas) said on February 5.In fact, compared with January 2019, the spread had only ever been smaller in January 2017, according to Irepas' outlook statement.Turkish producers were also trying to widen the spread, wh...Read More