WEEK IN BRIEF: TC/RCs at highest level for 10 months; MJP Al premiums not set; CME volumes outstrip LME

Metal Bulletin looks back at the key moves and market news of the week.

Metal Bulletin looks back at the key moves and market news of the week.

The week kicked off with treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) for copper concentrates hitting their highest levels for ten months.

You can find out what levels the TC/RCs got to, and why, by clicking here.

Meanwhile, the benchmark Main Japanese Port aluminium premiums have still not been set, click here to see why.

On Friday September 19, Metal Bulletin learned that a couple of major producers had settled some contracts at premiums of $420 per tonne as the gap between bids and offers narrowed.

However, in Brazil, premiums took a nudge downwards. Find out why, here.

Metal Bulletin’s premium assessment for P1020A ingot delivered São Paulo region dropped on Thursday September 18, but why?

Continuing on the theme of premiums, it was a good week for lead sellers. Chloe Smith explains.

US-based CME exchange was back in the news this week, with an analysis of futures contracts by Metal Bulletin’s editor Alex Harrison revealing some surprising results.

Which large Chinese firm opened up an office in Singapore this week? Find out here.

Trafigura India’s refined metal store Lykos, which launched in July, exceeded its launch targets and the company will be expanding its operations, the company’s ceo Raoul Bajaj told Metal Bulletin. See what else he had to say, here.

Four major European copper scrap recylers have signed up to a new e-scrap treatment standard, co-produced by Eurometaux and the European Electronics Recyclers Assn, designed to promote environmentally sound recycling processes and curtail the unethical sourcing of e-scrap. But which ones?

A major copper producer’s ceo will step down at the end of March…

…and just who has the LME appointed as head of sales.

Research showed that the world’s 100 largest copper wire and cable makers generated $115 billion in turnover in 2013, up $1.1 billion year-on-year.

In Canada, the country’s proposed bill on conflict minerals moved forward, while Amnesty International gave its view on US trade groups’ court brief.

Sentiment in the minor metals market took a downturn this week, Chloe Smith reports.

And after nickel’s recent rally, taking it to nine-month highs of almost $20,000 per tonne, it came back down with a bump this week, hitting five-month lows below $18,000 per tonne.

James Heywood
editorial@metalbulletin.com

What to read next
Steel producers in the United States remain optimistic about construction demand despite its lackluster short-term outlook, according to market participants
The influential annual treatment and refining charge (TC/RC) benchmark that sets the price that smelters charge miners to process their copper concentrate could be at risk, according to multiple market sources, although most believe the system, or elements of it, will remain
Caroline Messecar, strategic markets editor for Fastmarkets, explores the world of rare earth prices in her opinion piece for ‘The Crucible’ titled ‘Why have rare earth prices fallen?’
After a consultation period, Fastmarkets has amended the pricing frequency of its MB-STE-0141 steel billet import, cfr Manila, $/tonne, price assessment from a daily basis to twice per week.
Fastmarkets' initial low-carbon premium for nickel briquettes captured existing regional price differences, with growing awareness and legislative incentives indicating there is potential for a strong market to emerge
The publication of the following prices was delayed on Tuesday April 30 due to technical issues. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.