The Japanese government is calling on the United States to exempt high-quality Japanese steel from its Section 232 import tariffs.Motofuni Kusachi, chief representative of Japan Iron & Steel Federation, told delegates at the China Iron & Steel Association's 16th International Steel Market and Trade Conference in Xi'an on Thursday March 29 that because Japan exports high-quality prod...Read More
This year marks the start of a new age of steelmaking for China, according to Chi Jingdong, vice-chairman of the China Iron & Steel Association.The Chinese steel industry will continue to strive for improvements, especially in structural changes and meeting the demand of the country's economy, he said."The Chinese steel industry will work to ensure that domestic steelmakers work to support a stabl...Read More
The export market for CIS-origin pig iron was quiet this week mainly because of the Easter holiday in Europe and the United States, Metal Bulletin has been told.Suppliers were not active in the market due to the additional uncertainty in the scrap market.The only deal heard done in the US this week was when Russian steelmaker Tulachermet sold 35,000 tonnes of pig iron at $420 per tonne cfr. That w...Read More
Export prices for Brazil-origin slab have gone unchanged this week, with no volumes being booked, but there is still positive price sentiment among market participants.Metal Bulletin's weekly assessment of Brazil's export slab prices was $580-590 per tonne fob on Thursday March 29, stable from the previous week.No offers were made because mills have not started booking June-shipment material yet,...Read More
Some flat steel prices in Turkey's domestic and export markets went down slightly this week, although import prices were unchanged, market participants told Metal Bulletin on Thursday March 29.Local producers were fully booked until June.Domestic pricesHot-rolled coil (HRC) producers in Turkey have been offering material at $650-660 per tonne ex-works for late-May and early-June production, and a...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were split into two camps at the close on Thursday March 29 ahead of the market shutting down for a long Easter weekend.The three-month aluminium price closed 1.5% lower as it hit a low of $1,996 per tonne - the lowest since August 8, 2017. "Aluminium therefore cost nearly $300 less than the multi-year high it achieved in early January. Almost all of...Read More
The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Thursday March 29.Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly higher during morning trading on Thursday March 29, with the market gearing up for a long weekend for Easter holidays. The LME will be closed on Friday March 30 to Monday April 2 inclusive.Lead and aluminium prices were the only base metals...Read More
Has the recent Facebook data scandal got you a little paranoid about sharing information on the internet?I don’t blame you. After all, Facebook has access to some of your most personal information.I’m talking about every message you’ve ever sent or been sent, every contact in your phone and even access to your computer’s camera and microphones.Now would you like to get a lo...Read More
Good morning from Metal Bulletin's office in Shanghai as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Thursday March 29.Base metals traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly stronger during Asian morning trading on Thursday, with positive data from the United States overnight and a continued decline in geopolitical risk providing support.Check Metal Bulletin's live futures report...Read More
U.S jobless claims dropped to 215,000 last week, the lowest level since 1973, the Labor Department said on Thursday.Continue...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were split into two camps at the close on Thursday March 29 ahead of the market shutting down for a long Easter weekend.The three-month aluminium price closed 1.5% lower as it hit a low of $1,996 per tonne - the lowest since August 8, 2017. "Aluminium therefore cost nearly $300 less than the multi-year high it achieved in early January. Almost all of...Read More
Comex copper prices staged a modest rally in the US morning on Thursday March 29, with investor sentiment turning positive following a softer dollar and easing geopolitical tensions. Copper for May settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 3.75 cents or 1.3% to $3.0395 per lb. Geopolitical tensions are lessening, leading to a pick-up in investor appetite for the met...Read More
Iron ore prices recovered to $65 per tonne cfr China on Thursday March 29, despite limited physical trading in China.Metal Bulletin's 62% Fe Iron Ore Index Today: $64.99 per tonne cfr Qingdao Daily change: up by $1.87 per tonneMonth-to-date average: $70.20 per tonneMetal Bulletin's 58% Fe Premium Index Today: $52.00 per tonne...Read More
Prices in India for local secondary steel billet have increased by about 100 rupees per tonne in the current week, with demand for both semi-finished and finished products remaining steady and the number of inquiries rising toward the weekend.On Thursday March 29, prices for Indian domestic secondary billet, mainly produced through the induction furnace route, were 32,700-32,900 rupees ($503-506)...Read More
Refining charges (RCs) for imported blister copper continued to climb in China in March on ample stocks and softened demand for refined copper. The RC for 98-99% blister copper rose to $230- $250 per tonne on a cif basis on Thursday March 29, with spot deals of African brands reported to be close to $240 per tonne. This compared with the blister copper RC assessment of $200-$210 per tonn...Read More
Representatives of major international mining companies active in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have submitted a formal proposal to the country's Ministry of Mines that they say is designed to address their concerns about the recently-revised mining code as well as the government's revenue needs. Among other things, the proposal includes linking a sliding scale of royalty rates to the pri...Read More
Comex copper prices staged a modest rally in the US morning on Thursday March 29, with investor sentiment turning positive following a softer dollar and easing geopolitical tensions. Copper for May settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 3.75 cents or 1.3% to $3.0395 per lb. Geopolitical tensions are lessening, leading to a pick-up in investor appetite for the met...Read More
The arbitrage for copper, aluminium, zinc and nickel imported into China on Thursday March 29* Copper -$101.07 (-636.79 yuan) Aluminium -$337.76 (-2,125.62 yuan) Zinc -$126.54 (-797.32 yuan) Nickel -$624.42 (-3,934.35 yuan) *The physical arbitrage numbers...Read More
Metal Bulletin is hosting a free web seminar on Thursday April 5 at 9am London time to discuss the key drivers of the battery raw materials markets, including substitution risk, electric vehicle policy, and supply of lithium, nickel and cobalt. Date Thursday April 5 Time 9am London time Join members of our global battery raw materials team as they discuss: - EV subsidies and government policy in C...Read More
Metal Bulletin reviews the major stories that have affected the steel market over the past week.Iron ore prices recovered to $65 per tonne cfr China on Thursday March 29, despite limited physical trading in China, after reaching $63 per tonne on Wednesday.Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) has revised its guidance for the prices it expects to realize for iron ore sold in the year ending June 30, amid su...Read More