IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from July 8

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Monday July 8 that are worth another look.

Major miner Antofagasta has broken away from decades-long tradition to sign copper concentrates supply contracts for the first half of 2020 with China’s two biggest copper smelters in June, Fastmarkets understands. 

A higher tender price for silico-manganese in China for July improved sentiment and increased prices for low-grade manganese ore in the week ended on Friday July 5. 

Cobalt metal prices have slipped to 32-month low amid slow summer demand and cheaper offers from sellers. 

The Queensland Resources Council will hold discussions with the Australian government, mining unions and workers this week regarding action that can be taken to increase safety across the sector following a fatal accident over the weekend at the Baralaba North mine. The mine ships coking coal through the Port of Gladstone.

Some Egyptian steel mills have appealed a decision by the country’s Administrative Court last week to suspend safeguard duties on steel billet and rebar, Fastmarkets understands.

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The proposal would align the index more closely with physically traded volumes in the region, and enable it to adjust to evolving market conditions. This proposal follows an observed widening of the spread between trader and smelter purchase components of the index and is aligned with a majority of market feedback. Additionally, Fastmarkets seeks feedback […]
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Fastmarkets is extending the consultation period for the methodology of several of its black mass payables indicators and prices, and is also proposing changes to the names of CIF South Korea and EWX Europe black mass prices.
Rio Tinto Aluminium is expanding its footprint beyond its historic hydro-powered Canadian base, targeting Europe, Asia and Latin America as part of a deliberate diversification strategy, according to the unit’s chief executive officer.
Fastmarkets has corrected its copper concentrates treatment and refinement charge indices, which were published incorrectly on March 20 2026 due to a technical error.