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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from December 2

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Monday December 2 that are worth another look.

December 3, 2019
By Generic people page
Base metals Copper

United States President Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Brazil and Argentina, he said on social media platform Twitter on December 2.

A major Japanese steel mill plans to raise its hot-rolled coil offers to Asian buyers by $50 per tonne on a cfr basis for January-shipment materials.

Spot copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) increased at the end of November, with the market busy discussing annual contracts and deals.

Chinese vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) prices have resumed their decline as sentiment deteriorated on falling downstream vanadium nitrogen tender prices from major steel mills, while in Europe the price range widened upwards on increased spot activity.

Belgian battery-materials manufacturer Umicore has completed its purchase of cobalt refining and cathode precursor activities in Kokkola, Finland from Freeport Cobalt for $203 million.

What to read next
Fastmarkets proposes changes to Asia copper concentrates index weighting, seeks feedback on normalization of gold and silver
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 […]
April 8, 2026
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By Fastmarkets pricing team
Steel
Aluminium’s challenge now beyond moving the metal | Hotter Commodities
Until now, aluminium has been hard to move, not hard to find. Global aluminium supply had remained technically intact, even as output was curtailed in parts of the Gulf, inventory buffers were drawn down or repositioned, and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was severely disrupted.
April 2, 2026
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By Andrea Hotter
Water, Waterfront, Port
Aluminium in energy crossfire as Hormuz uncertainty drags on
Global aluminium producers face heightened uncertainty over power supplies, with oil and gas prices elevated by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows, sources told Fastmarkets.
April 1, 2026
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By Madeline Morgan
Pricing Notice
Fastmarkets extends consultation on NCM/NCA black mass methodology, proposes changes to price names
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.
March 27, 2026
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By Fastmarkets pricing team
Rio Tinto targets broader aluminium footprint, division CEO says
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.
March 24, 2026
 · 
By Andrea Hotter
Correction to copper concentrates treatment and refinement charges indices on March 20 2026
Fastmarkets has corrected its copper concentrates treatment and refinement charge indices, which were published incorrectly on March 20 2026 due to a technical error.
March 23, 2026
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By Fastmarkets pricing team