The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Friday November 16. Base metals on the London Metal Exchange had a mixed start during morning trading on Friday November 16, with investor sentiment improving amid easing US-China trade tensions and a slight downturn in the US dollar index.Both lead and nickel futures were the biggest climbers over the morning, apprec...Read More

The import price for steel billet in Southeast Asia fell on Friday November 16 after suppliers offered cheaper cargoes, while negative sentiment intensified on China's possible return to the export market.Fastmarkets' daily price assessment for billet imported into Southeast Asia was $495-502 per tonne cfr Manila on Friday, widening downward by $5 per tonne from $500-502 per tonne cfr the previous...Read More

Key data for the pricing session for the week ending November 16.China Domestic ferro-chrome spot prices held stable this week on thin trading activity. The UG2 chrome ore index continued to soften amid few deals, while some players held off from buying on expectations that the price will dip further. The imported charge chrome...Read More

The following Fastmarkets noble alloys, bulk alloys and ores prices changed on Friday November 16:Noble alloysFerro-molybdenum basis 65% min, in-warehouse Rotterdam, $/kg Mo: $28.50-28.80 per kg from $28.50-29.00Ferro-molybdenum US 65-70% Mo, $/Ib: $12.90-13.30 per Ib from $12.90-13.35Ferro-vanadium basis 78% min, free delivered duty paid, $/kg: $126.00-128.00 per kg from $124.25-126.00Ferro-vanad...Read More

At Fastmarkets MB's 34th International Ferro-alloys Conference in Lisbon this week, we polled delegates about their expectations for the ferro-alloys markets in 2019. How will ferro-alloy prices move in 2019 relative to 2018? After a strong year in 2018, which has included a steady increase in manganese ore prices and multi-year highs in the vanadium market, the greatest proportion of poll respond...Read More

The weekly Chinese domestic spot battery-grade lithium carbonate price was unchanged on Thursday November 15 with most major buyers concluding their final deals before the end of the year. Battery-grade lithium carbonate prices were stable in China and in the seaborne markets, with most producers working with limited stocks before the year-end. Technical and industrial-grade lithium carbonate...Read More

The price of shredded ferrous scrap imported into India rose this week, reflecting higher offer prices in the market, but weak demand is damaging sentiment, sources told Fastmarkets MB on Friday November 16.Fastmarkets MB's weekly index for containerized imports of shredded scrap into India was $358.81 per tonne cfr Nhava on November 16, up from $355.30 per tonne cfr Nhava on November 9.Offer pric...Read More

The Turkish steel mills resumed a watchful position in the deep-sea scrap markets on Friday November 16, with no bookings made and prices remaining unchanged, Fastmarkets was told.After the news of two deep-sea bookings heard on November 15 at $335 per tonne cfr for HMS 1&2 (80:20) both from the Baltic Sea and US suppliers, the mills in Turkey returned to being quiet at the end of the week.News of...Read More

Trading activity in the export market for pig iron from the Commonwealth of Independent States faded after active sales to the United States earlier this month.Fastmarkets MB's CIS export price assessment for high-manganese pig iron was at $365-370 per tonne fob Black Sea on Thursday November 15, unchanged from the previous week's assessment but down $5 down at the high end from the November 1 ass...Read More

Base metal stocks on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) showed divergent trends during the week ending Friday November 16, with nickel stocks surging 10.5% on a weekly basis. Deliverable nickel stocks at SHFE-approved warehouses moved up 1,558 tonnes or 10.5% week on week to 16,387 tonnes.Out of the four provinces in China, Shanghai was the only province to witness a nickel stock increase, where...Read More

Base metals on the London Metal Exchange had a mixed start in morning trading on Friday November 16, with investor sentiment improving amid easing US-China trade tensions and a slight downturn in the US dollar index.Both lead and nickel futures were the biggest climbers over the morning, appreciating more than 1% respectively amid depleting LME stocks and strong demand from the electric vehicle an...Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices rose on Friday November 16, amid a likely shortage in the supply of Australian fines.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $75.31 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.38 per tonne.MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $75.11 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.38 per tonne.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $78.40 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.43 per tonne.MB 58% Fe Premium Index: $64.73 per tonne...Read More

The Singapore Exchange (SGX) will launch high-grade iron ore derivatives settled against the daily MB 65% Fe Iron Ore Index published by Fastmarkets MB in the first week of December."The SGX MB Iron Ore cfr China (65% Fe Fines) over-the-counter swap contracts for clearing and the futures equivalent for trading and clearing will be introduced on Monday December 3," the exchange said on Friday Novem...Read More

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

The following Fastmarkets minor metals prices changed on Friday November 16:Bismuth MB China domestic, yuan/tonne: 50,000-52,000 yuan per tonne from 48,000-51,000 yuanChromium MB free market alumino-thermic, $/tonne: $10,700-11,100 per tonne from $10,800-11,200Cobalt MB free market high grade, $/lb: $33.50-34.25 per lb from $33.50-34.50Cobalt MB free market low grade, $/lb: $33.50-34.20...Read More

The manganese flake market is one of the most volatile markets today and will remain so for the near future, Arnaud Vigier, the vice president for manganese alloys sales at Eramet, told delegates of Fastmarkets' International Ferro-alloys conference in Lisbon on November 11-13. Manganese flake prices started 2018 at $1,800-1,950 per tonne and have been moving upward for most of the year mainl...Read More

The European stainless steel market was stable this week, but with prices remaining depressed because of competition among sellers, Fastmarkets heard on Friday November 16.Imported material continued to arrive from Asia and combined with domestic materials to give consumers a glut of purchasing options.But although it remains a buyers' market, prices have not moved any lower...Read More

The following Fastmarkets non-ferrous European free market scrap prices changed on Friday November 16:Aluminium scrapFloated Frag: ?,?1,000-1,050 per tonne from ?,?990-1,050Mixed turnings...Read More

Asia ferrous scrap prices are still falling this because because of weak demand from steel mills and ample supply from various origins.There were further price falls in the key import markets of Taiwan and Vietnam falls across most grades of heavy melting scrap, with containerized prices for Vietnam matching that of Taiwan.Vietnamese containerized ferrous scrap prices typically fetch a premium of...Read More

Good morning from Fastmarkets MB's offices in Asia as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Friday November 16.Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mixed during Asian morning trading on Friday, with zinc, copper and tin registering gains while the rest of the complex weakened.Check Fastmarket MB's live futures report here. The availability of copper scrap units in...Read More