IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from September 26

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Thursday September 26 that are worth another look.

Traded volumes and open interest have remained high for the CME’s aluminium premiums futures contracts even after spot market volatility eased this year, Sean Kessler, manager of metals products at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange said on Wednesday September 25.

China’s domestic stainless steel prices rose late last week on costlier nickel, and maintained those gains over the first three days of this week.

The global refined copper market was in a deficit of 220,000 tonnes in the first half of 2019, up from a deficit of 177,000 tonnes in the same period in 2018, the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) said this week.

Mining and metallurgical group OM Holdings has warned that third-quarter manganese ore production at its Bootu Creek mine in Australia’s Northern Territory will drop by 103,000 tonnes following a fatality in August.

Current seaborne market conditions have prompted Vale to cut its iron ore pellet production guidance for 2019 to 43 million tonnes from 45 million tonnes previously, the Brazilian mining company said on September 26.

What to read next
Steel producers in the United States remain optimistic about construction demand despite its lackluster short-term outlook, according to market participants
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
Caroline Messecar, strategic markets editor for Fastmarkets, explores the world of rare earth prices in her opinion piece for ‘The Crucible’ titled ‘Why have rare earth prices fallen?’
After a consultation period, Fastmarkets has amended the pricing frequency of its MB-STE-0141 steel billet import, cfr Manila, $/tonne, price assessment from a daily basis to twice per week.
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 publication of the following prices was delayed on Tuesday April 30 due to technical issues. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.