An explosion occurred at a Brazilian steelworks operated by producer Companhia Sider??rgica Nacional (CSN) earlier this week, but it took no victims and will have no effect on production, the company has said.A "strong reaction" occurred at the steel mill in the company's flat steel production unit in Volta Redonda, in the country's south-eastern Rio de Janeiro state, on Tuesday March 27, accordin...Read More

Measures taken in conjunction with the safeguard case against a number of imported steel products in the EU will have a negative impact on Europe's independent distributors, sources have told Metal Bulletin.The European Commission (EC) launched a safeguard case into 26 carbon and stainless steel products imported into the EU on March 26. The EC claims that the investigation was started to prevent...Read More

Import prices for flat steel goods brought into South America have all decreased this week, under pressure from trade tensions between China and the United States, which strongly affected the Chinese domestic market earlier this week.The import market in the region was also affected by reduced buying interest."[Chinese mills] were trying to sell volumes at any cost," a Chile-focused steel trader s...Read More

Domestic prices for rebar in Poland have been stable this week in a slow market, sources told Metal Bulletin.Steel mills are expected to increase their offers in early April to reflect the rise in scrap costs in the middle of March. Price growth will also be supported by improved demand from the construction sector in April, according...Read More

The European charge and high-carbon ferro-chrome benchmark settlement increased to $1.42 per lb for the second quarter of 2018, which is a rise of 20.3% from the first-quarter settlement of $1.18 per lb.South Africa's Merafe Resources announced the price to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on Thursday March 29. Merafe is the joint venture partner with London-listed trader and mining company Glencor...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

World silico-manganese supply rose more than 42% year on year in February, mainly due to soaring Chinese production, according to the latest data from the International Manganese Institute (IMnI).Global production reached 1.27 million tonnes in February, up 42.4% year on year but down 9.1% from January due to lower steel production, holidays in China and because February is a short month. Global d...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

Metal Bulletin's indices for minor metals, ores and alloys will not be published on Friday March 30 due to the Easter holidays in the United Kingdom.Weekly indices affected by the Good Friday March 30 holiday include: 44% manganese ore, cif Tianjin, $ per dmtu of metal contained 37% manganese ore, cif Tianjin, $ per dmtu of metal contained 37% manganese ore, fob Port Elizabeth, $ per dmtu of metal...Read More

World manganese ore supply rose by almost 20% year on year in February, due to South African miners ramping up production in response to rallying prices.Global supply of manganese units hit 1.54 million tonnes last month, up by 19.8% compared with February 2017, but down by 2.9% compared with January 2018, according to the latest data from the International Manganese Institute (IMnI).The productio...Read More

Prices in the light iron scrap market in the United Kingdom edged downward by ?5 per tonne on Thursday March 29, bringing last week's predictions by traders of imminent price falls to reality.Weaker export markets made larger merchants lower their prices, leading to the first drop in prices for four weeks, after three weeks of stability.Metal Bulletin's price assessment for UK grade-5C ferrous sc...Read More

Prices for containerized shredded scrap imported into India have fallen by around $5 per tonne this week with a continued freeze in trading activity, market sources told Metal Bulletin on Thursday March 29.Indian steel markets have been affected by low Chinese steel prices and the imposition of import tariffs by the United States in recent weeks, and uncertainty over the future direction of the gl...Read More

Turkish steel mills went quiet again in the scrap markets on Thursday March 29, after news of a European cargo changing hands at steady prices was heard the day before.A steel mill in the Marmara region had booked the European cargo, comprising 5,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (75:25), 20,000 tonnes of shredded and 5,000 tonnes of bonus at an average price of $375 per tonne cfr on March...Read More

The UK inter-merchant price range for austenitic alloy steel products fell by ?20-30 per tonne this week, with the price of nickel falling over the week, sources said on Thursday March 29.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for inter-merchant 18/8 scrap solids in the UK was ?930-980 ($1,314-1,385) per tonne delivered on Thursday, compared with ?960-1,000 per tonne on March 23."Material is...Read More

Brazilian pig iron export prices remained at high levels this week, with producers reporting positive market conditions."Prices are on an upward trend," a Brazil-based source told Metal Bulletin on Thursday March 29.This bullish scenario is explained by improved demand, according to market participants, as well as the effects of the steel import tariffs of 25% recently imposed by the United States...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

Seaborne coking coal prices remain under pressure, with China's domestic market for the steelmaking raw materials also losing steam, sources told Metal Bulletin on Thursday March 29. A cargo of premium low-vol hard coking coal was heard offered around $199 per tonne cfr China during the day. "With metallurgical coke prices dropping in China, it is only natural that coking coal prices should retrea...Read More

China's hot-rolled coil futures surged on Thursday March 29 but thin buying interest kept spot prices from rising much further after two days of steady gains.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,780-3,800 yuan ($601-604) per tonne, narrowed upward by 20 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,740-3,760 yuan per tonne, unchangedData released by a local industry information provider showed a sharp...Read More

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. Lead and aluminium prices bucked the trend, with the former dipping back to $2,025 per tonne following a large delivery into LME-listed warehouses. 30,075 tonnes of aluminium was delivered into Port Klang - meaning on-warrant stock there have...Read More

China's domestic rebar prices ran flat on Thursday March 29 due to inactive trading.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,460-3,540 yuan ($550-563) per tonne, unchanged Northern China (Beijing): 3,680-3,700 yuan per tonne, unchanged End-users cut procurement rates during the day after they bought actively in the past few days, market sources said. Traders have been able to keep prices stable despit...Read More