Comex copper prices inched higher in early-Monday trading on March 5 after trending lower last week.Copper for May settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange gained 0.1 cents or 0.1% to $3.1255 per lb. Last week, the contract traded at a multi-week low before recovering slightly Friday afternoon."We should now get an update on how bullish underlying support...Read More

The largest zinc delivery in nearly five years has swung zinc's London Metal Exchange cash/three-month spread into contango for the first time in 2018. Some 78,950 tonnes were delivered into LME-approved warehouses in New Orleans on Monday March 5 - the largest inflow since July 2013, increasing on-warrant stock levels by 94%. And it is not just the LME which has seen stocks rising; Shanghai Futur...Read More

The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Monday March 5.The three-month zinc price is trading 1.5% lower on the London Metal Exchange, following a large stock delivery into New Orleans.On-warrant stock levels in LME-listed warehouses in New Orleans have almost doubled following the 78,950 tonne delivery. This is the largest one-day net increase for zinc stoc...Read More

Hydro chief financial officer Eivind Kallevik has been appointed interim head of bauxite and alumina amid the company's disrupted operations and a force majeure at its Alunorte alumina refinery in Par??, Brazil. Kallevik held the position as head of finance for bauxite and alumina in Brazil for two years before becoming CFO in 2013. He also led the bauxite and alumina division for an interim perio...Read More

The three-month zinc price is trading 1.5% lower on the London Metal Exchange this morning, Monday March 5, following a large stock delivery into New Orleans. On-warrant stock levels in LME-listed warehouses in New Orleans have almost doubled following the 78,950 tonne delivery. This is the largest one-day net increase for zinc stocks in this location since July 2013. The backwardation in the cash...Read More

Arbitrage for copper, aluminium, zinc and nickel imported into China on Monday March 5*Copper -$63.99 (-406.20 yuan) Aluminium -$440.42 (-2,795.73 yuan) Zinc -$109.02 (-692.06 yuan) Nickel -$426.25 (-2,705.82 yuan) *Metal Bulletin calculates the physical...Read More

Brazilian exports of carbon steel slab and billet fell in February, according to figures released by the country's foreign trade ministry, MDIC, on Monday March 5. Exports of carbon steel slab reached 511,172 tonnes last month, down by 16.82% from the 614,560 tonnes sold in February 2017.The United States was the largest buyer of carbon slab during the month, with 221,934 tonnes, a growth from 103...Read More

Brazilian long steel imports increased by 198.66% year-on-year in February 2018, with higher shipment volumes coming from Turkey.Imports of non-alloyed long steel products amounted to 29,392 tonnes during the month, against 9,841 tonnes in the February 2017, according to figures released by the country's foreign trade ministry, MDIC,...Read More

Brazilian flat steel import volume dropped by 10.55% year-on-year in February 2018, mostly because of lower inbound shipments from China.Imports came to 56,048 tonnes, against 62,656 tonnes in February 2017, according to figures released by the country's foreign trade ministry, MDIC, on Monday March 5.China was the...Read More

Turkey's import volumes of flat steel increased by 4.06% year-on-year in January 2018, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK).The country imported 682,069 tonnes of flat steel, compared with 655,477 tonnes in January 2017, TUIK statistics published on Friday March 2 showed.Demand for flat steel is strong in Turkey, with local producers fully booked until late May, so import volumes...Read More

The Chinese ferro-silicon market dropped on Friday March 2, with one major tender signaling a slower return in demand from Chinese consumers after the recent national week-long holiday. Chinese steel tenders signal shift in demand  Other consumer markets also dropped  European market moves sideways, eyes March business  US steady on reduced imports Chinese domestic ferro-silicon pr...Read More

Low-grade manganese ore prices sailed through the $8 per dry metric tonne unit (dmtu) mark on Friday March 2 in China after producers ratcheted up their offers and on continued demand. Low-grade ore prices exceed $8 per dmtu in ChinaHigh-grade ore market lags in thin tradingSmelter backlash fails to slow rallyAlloy prices hold in most regionsUS ferro-manganese prices edge higher Low-grade mangane...Read More

Export volumes of Brazilian pig iron fell by 24.77% year-on-year in February, mainly due to reduced buying activity in the United States and Italy.Shipments totaled 178,260 tonnes, against 236,952 tonnes a year before, according to figures released by Brazilian foreign trade ministry MDIC on Monday March 5.Brazil exported 75,784 tonnes of pig iron to the US last month, down from 106,137 tonnes in...Read More

Brazilian iron ore export volumes to China were virtually unaltered in February, decreasing by only 0.58% on an annual basis, amid lower sales prices.Shipments totaled 13.67 million tonnes, compared with 13.75 million tonnes a year before, according to figures released by Brazilian foreign trade ministry MDIC on Monday March 5.In the same comparison, the average fob iron...Read More

Turkish domestic scrap prices strengthened over the past week, in line with rising imported scrap costs, sources said on Monday March 5.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for domestic auto bundle scrap (DKP grade) was TRY1,260-1,400 ($331-367) per tonne delivered on March 5, narrowing upward from last week's TRY1,230-1,400 per tonne.The change came about after a number of steel mil...Read More

Iron ore prices fell on Monday March 5 after China's ferrous futures weakened across the board.Metal Bulletin's 62% Fe Iron Ore Index Today: $77.03 per tonne cfr QingdaoDaily change: down by $1.31 per tonneMonth-to-date average: $78.25 per tonneMetal Bulletin's 58% Fe Premium Index Today: $60.78 per tonne cfr QingdaoDaily change: down by $0.89 per tonneMonth-to-date average: $61.50 per tonneMetal....Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices softened on Monday March 5 amid a weakening of ferrous futures in China. Key drivers The decline in the futures market weighed on the spot prices for both steel and iron ore. A number of traders lowered their offers to generate some buying interest. For instance, March-delivery cargoes of 61% Fe Pilbara Blend fines were offered at $75-75.25 per tonne cfr. There were also M...Read More

The seaborne coking coal market took a breather on Monday March 5 with end-users still waiting on the sidelines for a clearer trend to form. A prompt cargo of lower-ranked second-tier product was transacted at $200 per tonne cfr China, sources said. There are at least nine March- and April-laycan cargoes of premium materials being offered in the seaborne market, according to various sources. "Thre...Read More

The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for iron ore, pig iron, direct-reduced iron and other steelmaking raw materials. Latest transaction: iron ore Iron oreAnshan Iron & Steel, Beijing Iron Ore Trading Center (Corex),...Read More

Chinese silicon metal export prices continued to edge up on Friday March 2 amid renewed buying interest from Japanese buyers last week. Metal Bulletin's Chinese grade 553 silicon metal export price moved up to $2,010-2,050 per tonne on Friday, up 0.2% from the previous week. Tightness on spot availability persisted and is expected to be a dominant theme for March as a result of the halt of op...Read More