RAPAPORT... Among the challenges of assessing the lab-grown diamond market is the lack of published data on the sector. That's largely because none of the companies operating in the space are publicly traded, which would require them to disclose metrics such as sales, profit and production. It's largely through public reports by miners such as Alrosa, De Beers (via Anglo American), Petra Diam...Read More

A large-scale expansion at Freeport-McMoRan's El Abra copper mine in Chile is still being evaluated, although potential changes to the country's fiscal regime could lead to its deferment, the US copper producer said.The expansion would see the plant in northern Chile process additional sulfide material and achieve higher levels of copper recovery. According to Freeport, El Abra's large sulfide res...Read More

RAPAPORT... Swiss watch exports exceeded pre-pandemic levels in June amid a recovery in the US and China and strong demand for high-priced timepieces.Global shipments rose 13% compared to the same month of 2019, reaching CHF 1.96 billion ($2.14 billion), the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry said Tuesday. Exports jumped 71% year on year, reflecting a favorable comparison with the Covid-19 dow...Read More

United States copper producer Freeport-McMoRan reiterated its 2021 consolidated sales target of around 3.85 billion lbs (1.75 million tonnes) of copper while its ramp-up to underground mining at its Grasberg mine in Indonesia continues.This is an increase from 3.2 billion lbs - or 1.4 million tonnes - in 2020, and comes after the company reported lower second quarter copper sales than previously e...Read More

Base metals prices on both the LME and SHFE were mixed this morning, Thursday July 22, but have generally recovered from Monday's weakness, suggesting the dip-buying mentality still dominates. Lead prices at fresh highs as German lead producer Berzelius declared force majeure on supply after severe flooding forced it to suspend operations at its Stolberg smelter. United States 10-year treasury yie...Read More

The Brazilian steel institute A??o Brasil increased its forecast for apparent steel consumption in 2021, predicting a growth of 24.10% from the previous year.Apparent steel use is now estimated to reach 26.61 million tonnes this year, compared with 21.45 million tonnes in 2020, the association said on Thursday July 22. The figure is also higher than May's forecast of 24.66 million tonnes.Main stee...Read More

Hot-rolled coil prices in the United States remained above $91 per hundredweight ($1,820 per short ton) for a third consecutive day, with sporadic mill spot volumes trickling down to a few buyers and others looking to the import market to meet demand.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, fob mill US was calculated at $91.27 per cwt ($1,825.40 per ton) on Thursday July 22, a decrease of 0...Read More

US flat steel import prices were flat to down in Fastmarkets' latest assessment, reversing course after hitting record highs two weeks ago."Import prices seem to be dropping," a trader source said. Fastmarkets' assessment for steel hot-rolled coil, import, ddp Houston was at $1,620-1,640 per short ton ($81-83 per hundredweight) on Wednesday July 21, down by 2.09% from $1,650-1,700 per ton on July...Read More

The European market for steel hot-rolled coil remained quiet on Thursday July 22, with most producers holding back offers amid seasonally slow trading, sources told Fastmarkets.Sentiment turned negative in Northern Europe after severe flooding in Germany and parts of Belgium reduced trading activity to close to zero, with buyers and sellers assessing the consequences for the market.Even though the...Read More

Uranium Outlook: Ready for lift off at lastSPONSOREDGalan Lithium rides electric vehicle revolutionSPONSOREDgalan lithiumGlobal Atomic is shipshape and in weather for plain sailingSPONSOREDglobal atomicDenison aims for 2022 live ISR field test at PhoenixSPONSOREDdenison minesThe company approved $25 million in funding last year for a prefeasibility study into the underground.Kennecott has an under...Read More

China's domestic hot-rolled coil prices edged lower on Thursday July 22 after market participants reacted to Beijing's latest efforts to stabilize commodity prices.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,800-5,900 yuan ($897-912) per tonne, widening by 20-60 yuan per tonneThe most-traded HRC contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange touched an intraday low of 5,802 yuan per tonne in early afternoon tr...Read More

It said world refined copper production was 2.07 million tonnes, compared with usage of 2.14Mt.ICSG said preliminary data had indicated an apparent surplus."In the first four months of 2021, the world refined copper balance, based on Chinese apparent usage (excluding changes in unreported stocks), indicated a surplus of about 70,000t," it said.It said preliminary data pointed to world copper mine...Read More

China's domestic rebar prices were unchanged on Thursday July 22 amid a confluence of opposing factors, but market participants expect them to regain their upward momentum soon.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,230-5,250 yuan ($809-812) per tonne, unchangedEnd-user demand for rebar continued to decline due to heavy rain in Henan province and high temperatures in other parts of China.But some res...Read More

Turkish steel mills remained absent from the market on Thursday July 22 as the Eid al-Adha public holiday continued.The country is currently off work for the week-long religious holiday, with trading not expected to resume until Monday July 26 at the earliest, sources...Read More

U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 10 points in pre-opening trade. Whirlpool dropped $3.00 to $214.25 despite reporting higher than consensus second quarter revenues and earnings. The company also offered positive guidance. Texas Instruments fell $7.35 to $186.89 despite reporting higher than consensus second quarter revenues and earnings. However, the...Read More

Increasing supplies of H2-grade steel scrap have allowed South Korean buyers to obtain the material at lower prices in the week to Thursday July 22, sources told Fastmarkets.Summer maintenance rounds at various Japanese steelmakers have reduced consumption of material in that local market, but the tighter supply and strong demand seen in higher grades such as Shindachi busheling have kept prices f...Read More

Production of steel will be halted for at least two weeks in the key Bangladesh market when the country's latest Covid-19-related lockdown starts on Friday July 23, sources have told Fastmarkets.The new lockdown rules will be stricter on the steel industry than the existing 'circuit breaker' regime. The current rules came into effect on July 1 and permitted steel production to continue, although t...Read More

Iron ore prices fell on Thursday July 22 amid a weak short-term demand outlook, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $202.63 per tonne, down $12.16 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $204.62 per tonne, down $11.55 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $166.88 per tonne, down $9.56 per tonne65% Fe Brazil-origin fines, cfr Qin...Read More

Heavy weather barreled through Wall Street Monday - beneath the weatherman's detection - and gave investors a savage drenching.Squalling rains washed away 925 points from the Dow Jones Industrial Average... before relenting late in the day.High pressure, high skies and high expectations were back yesterday. The Dow Jones reclaimed 536 points. It took back another 286 points today.Once again... all...Read More

Much higher supplies of natural gas, hydrogen, 'green' electricity, and steel scrap will be needed for the development of Direct Reduction Iron-Electric-arc Furnace (DRI-EAF) steelmaking processes in China,Baowu Group said on Thursday July 22."Developing the DRI-EAF steelmaking technologies is an important and inevitable step for the Chinese steel sector to achieve carbon neutrality," Xu Wanren, t...Read More