IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from February 7

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Thursday February 7 that are worth another look.

A group of lawmakers in the United States introduced legislation that would require the US Department of Defense to justify the national security basis for new tariffs under Section 232 and increase congressional oversight of that process.

Producer Norsk Hydro’s underlying operating profit dropped by almost 85% in the fourth quarter due to the effects of its production curtailment at its Brazilian alumina refinery, Alunorte.

Global steelmaker ArcelorMittal on Thursday February 7 reported an 8.9% year-on-year decrease in its worldwide earnings in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Lingering concerns of supply tightness for high-grade copper scrap items in the US have put some pressure on discounts, while Comex gains helped to lift some brass scrap prices.

The seaborne coking coal spot market was largely stable on Thursday despite the emergence of supply concerns in Queensland, Australia, following closure of ports in the country.

What to read next
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
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 Chilean government is pushing ahead with plans for a new copper smelter despite the global smelting crisis, Chile’s minister of mining, Aurora Williams told Fastmarkets, adding that the state will also play a key role in developing the country’s premium lithium assets
Just under two weeks ago, the chair of BHP made a phone call to his counterpart at mining peer Anglo American and set in motion a flurry of activity designed to create the largest copper producer in the world
Brazilian aluminium supply coming from Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA) is said to have tightened, helping to boost the P1020A ingot premium, market participants told Fastmarkets in the two weeks to Wednesday April 24
In anticipation of a tight market, copper concentrate traders have locked in 2025 volumes at notably low treatment charges, with deals being placed well below the long-term industry benchmarks