IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from February 1

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Friday February 1 that are worth another look.

Courts in Brazil have ruled that up to 12.6 billion Reais ($3.44 billion) of Vale’s assets and resources will be frozen after the rupture of a tailings dam at Vale’s Córrego do Feijão iron ore mine, the miner stated on Friday February 1.

Market participants will take a cautious stance on steel raw materials in 2019, with the possibly of falling iron ore and coking coal prices hanging over the market, Fastmarkets MB analyst Miriam Falk said.

Codelco’s Chuqicamata flash copper smelter will remain offline for at least a month longer than previously expected, with a large-scale upgrade at the plant experiencing delays, the company told Fastmarkets.

First Quantum Minerals has resumed copper production at its Las Cruces mill in Spain after a land slippage last week, by processing lower-grade stockpiled ore.

Asian ferrous scrap prices are riding surges in iron ore prices and much-needed restocking activity by steel mills and are continuing on an upward trend, Fastmarkets heard on February 1.

What to read next
European automotive procurement faces growing complexity due to regional cost volatility and policy-driven supply chains reshaping material pricing and sourcing strategies. This demands granular, region-specific market intelligence for precise cost modeling and strategic decision-making.
The assessment, which currently follows the UK holiday calendar, will follow the Singapore holiday calendar after the proposed change. There will be no change to the publication timing, and the assessment will continue to be published weekly on Wednesdays, at 7pm Singapore time. The purpose of the adjustment is to align the timing to the […]
JX Advanced Metals, Mitsui Kinzoku, Marubeni and Mitsubishi Materials(MMC) inked a deal to integrate MMC's copper concentrate procurement and related products sales business into Pan Pacific Copper (PPC), marking a significant consolidation of Japan's copper concentrate purchasing sector amid persistent pressure from weak treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs).
The publication of Fastmarkets’ assessments of the nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, in-whs Shanghai, and the nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, cif Shanghai for Tuesday May 26 were delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated. The following prices were affected:MB-NI-0143 Nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, in-whs Shanghai, […]
Copper producers, including Atlas Mining, reported higher earnings in the first quarter of 2026 on the back of elevated copper prices, while concentrate output declined at several operations in Chile, Brazil, Colombia and the Philippines due to lower ore grades and disruptions, according to company results reviewed by Fastmarkets.
The amendment follows the decision made on May 14, after a consultation period for the proposed changes which took place between April 3 and May 11. The changes were first proposed in a pricing note published on April 3.  The purpose of the changes is to align the publication times to the activity in the […]