IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from March 12

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday March 12 that are worth another look.

The development of the futures market in China has been a “double-edged sword” for the domestic ferro-silicon industry, leading to more flexibility for market participants and wilder price swings than prior to its existence, one speaker said at Fastmarkets’ Asian Ferro-alloys Conference in Hong Kong this week.

The London Metal Exchange is prepared for whatever outcome arises from the planned departure of the UK from the European Union, including a so-called “hard” Brexit, its chief executive officer said on Tuesday March 12.

Consolidation among copper-consuming companies is likely to continue and is being driven by an ever more competitive market for copper products, panelists at Fastmarkets’ International Copper conference in Amsterdam said on March 12.

Iron ore miner Vale has temporarily suspended port activities at its Guaíba Island Terminal in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro on orders of the Mangaratiba city government, it said on Monday March 11.

In the scrap sector, the United States’ aluminium and copper scrap export volumes to China (including Hong Kong) tumbled in 2018, hitting 14-year and 18-year lows respectively although overall exports of non-ferrous scrap rose year on year. Meanwhile, improved broad-based demand from global steelmakers significantly boosted US ferrous scrap exports last year, successfully offsetting lower annual shipments to Turkey.

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Market reactions to the soon-to-be-implemented US copper tariff are driving short-term volatility and supply imbalances while fuelling long-term efforts to expand domestic production, recycling and infrastructure.
US export controls on recycled copper would have unintended consequences that could weaken the country’s domestic recycling and manufacturing ecosystems, the president of the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) said.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ assessments for nickel 4x4 cathode, nickel briquette and nickel uncut cathode premiums in-whs Rotterdam was delayed on Tuesday July 16 because of a reporter error.
Fastmarkets has corrected its alumina index inferred prices, which were published incorrectly on Tuesday July 15.
The United States' copper recycling industry is ramping up pressure on policymakers to impose some form of export controls on high-purity copper scrap, arguing that current trade dynamics – particularly with China – are distorting prices, weakening domestic capacity and undermining national security goals.
Fastmarkets launched two new price assessments for Indonesia’s domestic trade in nickel ore on Tuesday July 15. The two price assessments are for domestic trades of Indonesian laterite ores with 1.6% and 1.2% nickel content. Indonesia now accounts for 60% of the global nickel supplies and while there is an official government reference price, known […]