IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from July 14

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday July 14 that are worth another look.

Sims Metal Management, the world’s top metal and electronics recycler, is to lay off up to one-fifth of its UK workforce, Fastmarkets understands.

Commercial vehicles led China’s annual automotive output and sales in June, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said on July 10, especially those related to the construction industry.

Workers at Antofagasta’s Zaldivar and Centinela copper mines in Chile have successively voted to take industrial action after the negotiations for labor contract renewals failed, Fastmarkets understands.

Afarak’s South African Mogale Alloys processing plant has brought forward and extended the duration of its annual winter maintenance process, it said on July 13 and then confirmed to Fastmarkets.

Bulk alloys markets in Europe and India look set to trade under persistent pressure from a lack of demand in the near term, with weekly price falls raising the prospect of production cuts, according to industry sources.

What to read next
Based on preliminary market feedback, market participants noted that smaller-sized spot market transactions may be skewed and not reflective of the wider market. The aluminium P1020A(MJP), cif Japan, assessment specification which has a minimum tonnage of 100 tonnes will be amended to 500 tonnes after the proposed change. The proposed new specifications are as follows, […]
Fastmarkets consulted the market on the proposed change between April 3 and May 11, 2026. Some feedback was received regarding the publication times of nickel pig iron and laterite ore prices. Fastmarkets will adjust the initially proposed publication times accordingly and proceed with the changes. This decision was first proposed in a methodology note published […]
The price assessments were not affected by the incorrect publication and the correct prices are showing on Dashboard. The price was published at 12.33pm London time instead of the scheduled time of 3-4pm. The following prices were published early:MB-CU-0405 Copper grade A cathode premium, in-whs Shanghai, $ per tonneMB-CU-0383 Copper grade A cathode ER premium, bonded in-whs […]
On Wednesday May 6, a critical minerals panel at Commodities Trading Week in London said metals markets are shifting from an energy transition-led narrative toward security of supply, leaving Europe particularly exposed because of its reliance on imports.
The Canadian government announced on Tuesday May 4 a new financing program worth C$1.5 billion ($1.1 billion) to help mitigate the effect of US metals tariffs and support several of Canada’s tariffed industries.
Fastmarkets wishes to clarify that it accepts data submissions in outright price and as a differential to the Mineral Benchmark Price (HPM)-plus-premium for its Indonesian domestic trade nickel ore price assessments. Fastmarkets is also seeking market feedback on recent changes to the Indonesian government’s HPM specifications.