Benchmark prices for cobalt metal continued to recover through April 2019, although lackluster gains for cobalt sulfate were a sign of continued oversupply at points along the supply chain.Price movesThe benchmark standard-grade cobalt prices showed a month-on-month increase in April for the first time since October, with consumers and traders starting to restock, and producers facing less urgency...Read More
Australian lithium spodumene concentrate producer Mineral Resources has announced lower first-quarter spodumene production at its Mount Marion mine in Western Australia. It produced 106,683 tonnes of lithium spodumene concentrate, at the Mount Marion operation in the south-central region of the state, in the January-March quarter, down by 7.23% from the 115,000 tonnes produced in the previous quar...Read More
Alliance Mineral and Jiangxi Special Electric Motor have signed a non-binding MoU to jointly produce and sell battery-grade lithium hydroxide.Australian lithium spodumene concentrate producer Alliance Mineral and lithium and electric vehicle producer Jiangxi Special Electric Motor signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding on Friday April 26 for a 50:50 joint venture to produce and sell batt...Read More
Chinese steel plate export prices dropped in the past week as mills chased orders amid sparse trading.Fastmarkets MB's assessment for June shipments of commercial-grade, chromium-added plate was $540-547 per tonne fob for the week ended Tuesday April 30, down $3-5 per tonne from $545-550 per tonne fob the week prior.An eastern China-based trader sold some plate of small tonnages (less than 1,000 t...Read More
Domestic prices for hollow steel sections in both Northern and Southern Europe moved down this week following continued feedstock price decreases and lackluster demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday May 1.The market has been quiet this week, largely due to the May 1 public holidays in many European countries, but also because of the previous slowdown for the Easter break across the co...Read More
The UK government has agreed to provide long steel producer British Steel a loan worth ?120 million ($156 million) to cover the annual bill from the EU for the company's carbon emissions, government business secretary Greg Clark told the UK Parliament on Wednesday May 1."British Steel approached my department earlier this year to explain that the absence of the expected 2019 free allowances left...Read More
Steel H-beam prices in Northern and Southern Europe moved down this week on lower feedstock costs and weaker demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday May 1.Fastmarkets' assessment of the price for domestic S235-grade, 200x200mm, category-2 H-beam in Northern Europe moved down to ?,?590-625 ($661-700) per tonne delivered on May 1, from ?,?590-635 per tonne delivered on April 24.High stock leve...Read More
Domestic prices for hollow steel sections in both Northern and Southern Europe moved down this week following continued feedstock price decreases and lackluster demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday May 1.The market has been quiet this week, largely due to the May 1 public holidays in many European countries, but also because of the previous slowdown for the Easter break across the co...Read More
The premium to be paid on purchases of lead ingots went up in India over the week ended Wednesday May 1, with buying spurred by low exchange rates before the imminent beginning of the monsoon season. Elsewhere, physical zinc premiums remained low in Europe, with sales prompted by record-high backwardations in the forward price. Lead premiums rise from one-year lows in IndiaZinc premiums remain at...Read More
A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday May 1. Please click...Read More
Australian lithium spodumene concentrate producer Mineral Resources has announced lower first-quarter spodumene production at its Mount Marion mine in Western Australia. It produced 106,683 tonnes of lithium spodumene concentrate, at the Mount Marion operation in the south-central region of the state, in the January-March quarter, down by 7.23% from the 115,000 tonnes produced in the previous quar...Read More
Lead's three-month price on the London Metal Exchange fell to its lowest level since 2016 at the close of trading on Wednesday May 5, with its price action largely subdued amid commodity trading advisor (CTA) selling and low liquidity conditions, while investors hold out for the US Federal Reserve's rate decision due later. Reaching an intra-day low of $1,846.50 per tonne, three-month lead futures...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday May 1 that are worth another look.Vanadium producer Bushveld Minerals has agreed to buy multiple South African production assets for $68 million, it said on Wednesday May 1. The South Africa-based miner will acquire Duferco Vanadium Investment Holding's Vanchem plant, the ferro-vanadium business of its subsidiary South African...Read More
A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday May 1. Please click...Read More
Lead's three-month price on the London Metal Exchange fell to its lowest level since 2016 at the close of trading on Wednesday May 5, with its price action largely subdued amid commodity trading advisor (CTA) selling and low liquidity conditions, while investors hold out for the US Federal Reserve's rate decision due later. Reaching an intra-day low of $1,846.50 per tonne, three-month lead futures...Read More
Fastmarkets' tin premiums in the United States fell this week, with an indefinite strike at the world's fifth-largest tin producer unlikely to alleviate pressure of poor demand and oversupply, while weak buying appetite and supply uncertainties in Indonesia are capping spot business in Asia and Europe. US premiums fall despite Minsur strike, demand in question European participants brace for...Read More
Fastmarkets' tin premiums in the United States fell this week, with an indefinite strike at the world's fifth-largest tin producer unlikely to alleviate pressure of poor demand and oversupply, while weak buying appetite and supply uncertainties in Indonesia are capping spot business in Asia and Europe. US premiums fall despite Minsur strike, demand in question European participants brace for...Read More
Domestic prices for hollow steel sections in both Northern and Southern Europe moved down this week following continued feedstock price decreases and lackluster demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday May 1.The market has been quiet this week, largely due to the May 1 public holidays in many European countries, but also because of the previous slowdown for the Easter break across the co...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday May 1 that are worth another look.Vanadium producer Bushveld Minerals has agreed to buy multiple South African production assets for $68 million, it said on Wednesday May 1. The South Africa-based miner will acquire Duferco Vanadium Investment Holding's Vanchem plant, the ferro-vanadium business of its subsidiary South African...Read More
Weak United States aluminium premiums and increased ocean shipping costs led to a continued narrowing of the estimated arbitrage between Southeast Asia warehouses and the US Midwest.Fastmarkets assessment for the average monthly midpoint of the P1020 US Midwest aluminium premium was at $418.87 per tonne in April, flat from March.Oversupply has created pressure on the US premium over the month, nar...Read More