ASIAN MORNING BRIEF 24/07: Aluminium swings to contango, prices rise on LME; Teck Resources to halve zinc conc contract volumes to smelters in 2019; Rusal shares rise on HKEX

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Tuesday July 24.

Aluminium prices ended higher on the London Metal Exchange on Monday July 23, bolstered by a fresh cancellation of more than 32,000 tonnes of the metal across Europe. Read more in our live futures report.

Here are how prices looked at the close of trading:

The London Metal Exchange’s nearby aluminium spread swung to a contango on Monday afternoon from a backwardation of $55 per tonne earlier.

Teck Resources will halve its frame contract tonnage volumes for supply to smelters effective next year, the Canadian miner has informed its customers.

UC Rusal’s share value rose by 14.8% on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on July 23 after the US Treasury Department said late on Friday that it was open to lifting sanctions on the Russian aluminium producer.

The commodities most affected so far by the trade spat between China and the United States are soybeans, steel and aluminium, but what if the list were extended in China to cover copper, namely concentrates and scrap?

Analysts expect earnings for steelmaker ArcelorMittal to increase by nearly 35% year on year for April-June 2018, they said on July 20.

Swedish steelmaker SSAB expects steel demand to be strong in the US during the third quarter of this year, the company said on Friday.

What to read next
Fastmarkets has corrected its fob Australia alumina index, which was published incorrectly on Monday June 2 and Tuesday June 3 due to a back-end calculation error. Fastmarkets has also corrected all the related inferred indices. On June 2 the following prices were published incorrectly: Fastmarkets’ MB-ALU-0002 Alumina index, fob Australia, was published in error as $375.59 per […]
Mexico’s strategic role in automotive nearshoring is fueling demand for recycled aluminium, with investment in scrap-intensive sectors boosting its non-ferrous secondary markets. Despite tariff uncertainties, USMCA compliance and EV production growth continue to attract global manufacturers.
Goldcorp founder Rob McEwen is back in the spotlight with a bold bet on copper in Argentina. The $2.5 billion Los Azules project, set to become Argentina’s first major copper mine in over 30 years, is reshaping the country’s mining industry while raising sustainability standards. Positioned as a key player in addressing a global copper shortage, the project highlights innovation, persistence and a commitment to meeting the growing demand from global electrification.
Fastmarkets has launched MB-NI-0257, high-grade nickel matte payable indicator, 65-75% nickel contained, cif China, % of official exchange price on Friday May 30.
The following price was affected: MB-AL-0020 Aluminium P1020A premium, ddp Midwest US, US cents/lb.  This price is a part of the Fastmarkets Base Metals package. For more information or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of this price or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter to this price, please […]
The US aluminium industry is experiencing challenges related to tariffs, which have contributed to higher prices and premiums, raising questions about potential impacts on demand. Alcoa's CEO has noted that sustained high prices could affect the domestic market. While trade agreements might provide some relief, analysts expect premiums to remain elevated in the near term. However, aluminum demand is projected to grow over the long term, supported by the energy transition and clean energy projects. To meet this demand, the industry will need to increase production, restart idle smelters and address factors such as electricity costs and global competition.