ASIAN MORNING BRIEF 06/02: LME base metals end mostly higher; Peru’s copper production rises; Chinese ferro-silicon prices fall

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Tuesday February 6.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly higher at the 5pm close on Monday February 5, although lead again bucked the trend. Read more in our live futures report.

Here are how LME prices looked at Monday’s close:

Peru’s copper production grew nearly 4% in 2017 thanks to higher output at the MMG’s Las Bambas and Chinalco’s Toromocho mines.

Chinese ferro-silicon prices have edged down in line with tender purchase prices over the past week, with the European market easing amid reports of deals heard below the current range.

The United States’ domestic plate price jumped to the highest point since 2014 due to higher demand and supply pressures.

Tungsten prices have climbed higher in both Europe and China over the past week due to tightening availability of raw material ahead of the week-long national holiday in China in mid-February.

ThyssenKrupp workers belonging to German trade union IG Metall have voted to support the collective wage agreement for the merger of the German company’s European flat steel division with those of Tata Steel, the union said on February 5.

Manganese ore prices have climbed over the past week, extending a run higher due to relatively tight spot availability and consumer demand in China ahead of the week-long national holiday.

With the Chinese economy slowing and steel margins squeezed by higher raw materials costs and lower finished steel prices, the prospects for 2018 do not exactly look rosy.

Tightening supply in China pushed prices up for chrome ore and domestic and imported charge chrome during the week ended February 2, while the European market dipped and the US price range widened.

Chinese silicon export prices rose again last week due to continuing dollar weakness and tightening spot availability of material.

What to read next
The proposal to increase the publication frequency from monthly to weekly comes amid increased volatility of copper on the London Metal Exchange, while copper scrap discounts have been shifting on a more regular basis. This more frequent assessment will enable Fastmarkets to reflect market dynamics in a timelier manner, as well as capture more spot […]
Fastmarkets has corrected its assessments for Shanghai bonded nickel stocks on January 30.
Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-AL-0346 Aluminium P1020A premium, in-whs dup Rotterdam, $/tonne that was published incorrectly on Thursday January 29.
Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-AL-0299 aluminium 6063 extrusion billet premium, ddp Spain that was published incorrectly on Friday January 23.
Learn about the recent trends in AI metals costs and their effect on lithium, copper and aluminium prices for energy storage.
Following a consultation period, which closed on January 14, Fastmarkets will increase the frequency of its MB-BX-0016 Bauxite, cif China, price assessment to a weekly basis, from a monthly basis. Fastmarkets will also extend the timing of the price to include cargoes for arrival within 90 days and move the publishing time to 7pm Shanghai time on Friday. […]