AQS starts steel output; to reach full capacity in early 2020

Algerian Qatari Steel (AQS) started its own steel production last week, the company told Fastmarkets at the sidelines of the Arab Iron & Steel Union (AISU) annual summit in Tunisia on Wednesday November 27.

The company used to import steel billet, but a source at the company told Fastmarkets: "We have stopped importing semis some time ago, continuing with re-rolling billet from stocks imported earlier."
In January-September, Algeria imported 759,951 tonnes of billet mainly from Ukraine, Russia and Turkey, according to data from the International Steel Statistics Bureau (ISSB). That was up from 701,895 tonnes over the same period in 2018.

Fastmarkets' daily steel billet index, CIS export, fob Black Sea was at $386 per tonne on Wednesday, up from $370 per...

Bank of Japan boosts rates, continuing an unwinding carry trade

Gold stocks outperform equity market slide

Silver inventories rebound in UK, output from major producers rises

Silver's three-month outperformance continues

Silver & Copper Supply Distortions Continue