Global ferrous scrap prices were on a downward trend this week due to thin demand from steel mills, which expected spot prices to continue to fall in the near term. Spot prices in Vietnam bucked the trend, stable despite limited offers for HMS 1&2 (80:20) materials. Turkey scrap demand limited US ferrous scrap market likely to continue downtrend Kanto Tetsugen tender concludes at ?23,300 ($209) p...Read More
European traders have complained of being priced out of the market for domestic grade-316 stainless steel scrap because of high demand from Asian importers, Fastmarkets heard on Friday April 12.One European trader was offered grade-316 scrap solids at ?,?1,650 ($1,859) per tonne delivered, but declined the deal because it did not think it would be able to achieve a positive margin when selling the...Read More
Fastmarkets published its India domestic, export and import prices later than scheduled on Friday April 12, because of a technical issue.The following prices were published in Fastmarkets' price book later than scheduled.India domestic cold-rolled coil, rupees per tonne, ex-worksIndia domestic direct-reduced iron, rupees per tonne, exwIndia domestic heavy plate, rupees per tonne, exwIndia domestic...Read More
Billet producers in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have started to seek sales opportunities in Asia, considering the weak sentiment in their traditional markets in the Middle East-North Africa (Mena) region.A large cargo of Ukraine-origin billet was sold to South Asia at $440-445 per tonne fob Black Sea, Fastmarkets has learnt, which would be equivalent to $470-475 per tonne cfr.And...Read More
A safeguarding investigation into imports of semi-finished iron products, non-alloy steel and steel rebar by Egypt's Ministry of Trade & Industry could lead to a fall in billet, rebar and scrap prices.Initiated on Tuesday April 2, the investigation is of particular concern to CIS producers as they are they main suppliers of billet Egyptian re-rollers, sources told Fastmark...Read More
Transaction prices for grade-304 stainless steel cold-rolled (CR) sheet in Europe remained static in the week ended Friday April 12 despite some mills continuing to offer material at inflated levels.Offer prices for grade-304 CR sheets were heard as high as ?,?2,350 ($2,648) per tonne delivered during the week, the same level as in the previous week.Despite these offers, Fastmarkets' price assessm...Read More
UK and European steel market participants renewed calls for the European Union and the United Kingdom to reach an agreement and avoid continued market uncertainty after the UK was granted a six-month extension to delay Brexit until Thursday October 31. The latest extension has also averted the prospect of the UK having to leave the EU without a deal on Friday April 12. A "no deal" Brexit would mea...Read More
UK and European steel market participants renewed calls for the European Union and the United Kingdom to reach an agreement and avoid continued market uncertainty after the UK was granted a six-month extension to delay Brexit until Thursday October 31. The latest extension has also averted the prospect of the UK having to leave the EU without a deal on Friday April 12. A "no deal" Brexit would mea...Read More
A safeguarding investigation into imports of semi-finished iron products, non-alloy steel and steel rebar by Egypt's Ministry of Trade & Industry could lead to a fall in billet, rebar and scrap prices.Initiated on Tuesday April 2, the investigation is of particular concern to CIS producers as they are they main suppliers of billet Egyptian re-rollers, sources told Fastmark...Read More
Aluminium foundry premiums in Western Europe and the United States continued to slide on Friday April 12 following sustained concerns about the automotive industry. The premium for silicon 7 aluminium wheel alloys over London Metal Exchange cash prices delivered to the Ruhr region with 30-day payment terms was assessed Friday at $340-360 per tonne. The premium is down more than 17.6% year on year....Read More
Aluminium billet premiums worldwide were mostly static on Friday April 12, although the premium in Brazil bucked the trend in moving to its highest level since June 15 of last year. ?EUR? Spanish premium drops below $400 per tonne ?EUR? Brazilian market pushes higher on more offers?EUR? US spot market remains quiet?EUR? Asia quiet ahead of holidaysEurope mostly quiet; Spain continues to fallThe pr...Read More
Fastmarkets published its India domestic, export and import prices later than scheduled on Friday April 12, because of a technical issue.The following prices were published in Fastmarkets' price book later than scheduled.India domestic cold-rolled coil, rupees per tonne, ex-worksIndia domestic direct-reduced iron, rupees per tonne, exwIndia domestic heavy plate, rupees per tonne, exwIndia domestic...Read More
Billet producers in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have started to seek sales opportunities in Asia, considering the weak sentiment in their traditional markets in the Middle East-North Africa (Mena) region.A large cargo of Ukraine-origin billet was sold to South Asia at $440-445 per tonne fob Black Sea, Fastmarkets has learnt, which would be equivalent to $470-475 per tonne cfr.And...Read More
U.S. equity index futures moved higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 15 points in pre-opening trade. Index futures responded to encouraging economic news released by China.Anadarko advanced $13.90 to $60.70 and Chevron dropped $6.20 to $119.70 after Chevron made a $33 billion cash and share offer to acquire the company. Estimated per share value of offer is $65.JP Morgan advanced $2.65...Read More
Copper's three-month price on the London Metal Exchange drifted lower at the close of trading on Thursday April 11, capped by low-volume trading amid international trade tensions, while positive unemployment figures from the United States in the afternoon did little to boost investor confidence.Three-month copper futures traded around $6,400 per tonne over the afternoon, but have softened by aroun...Read More
Comex copper prices tumbled in morning trading on Thursday April 11 in the United States amid weak trading volumes and a stronger dollar.The copper price for May settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange declined by 2.25 cents per lb to $2.9030 per lb.Trading volumes have been low this week with major market participants attending the Cesco Copper conference...Read More
Benchmark alumina prices continued to decline on Thursday March 11 due the sudden arrival of surplus cargoes into the market. Fastmarkets' daily fob Australia alumina index dropped to $387.26 per tonne on Thursday, down from $402 per tonne the previous day. The index is now 7.2% lower than at the start of April when cargoes were trading as high as $417 per tonne. "All a sudden there are multi...Read More
Low-grade manganese ore prices have held relatively steady since rebounding from this year's lows in January, when market participants toned down fears of oversupply in the alloy market. Normally volatile low-grade manganese ore prices have held relatively steady since rebounding from this year's lows in January, after which market participants toned down fears of oversupply in the alloy market. F...Read More
Benchmark alumina prices continued to decline on Thursday March 11 due the sudden arrival of surplus cargoes into the market. Fastmarkets' daily fob Australia alumina index dropped to $387.26 per tonne on Thursday, down from $402 per tonne the previous day. The index is now 7.2% lower than at the start of April when cargoes were trading as high as $417 per tonne. "All a sudden there are multi...Read More
The halving of China's new energy vehicle (NEV) subsidies will have a positive impact on the production of lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) batteries in the short term, but nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) lithium-ion battery development will benefit in the long run, delegates heard at Fastmarkets' Battery Materials conference in Shanghai on Thursday April 11. "The values of subsidies have been cut signif...Read More