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

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

Jiangxi Copper has become the first Chinese company to receive the green light to set up a large-scale copper scrap processing facility in Malaysia after China’s clamp down on copper scrap imports led to mass scrap diversion to Southeast Asia, two company officials directly involved in the matter told Fastmarkets.

Norsk Hydro will aim to create a more sustainable footprint through the life cycle of its low-carbon aluminium products and solutions, the company’s new president and chief executive officer, Hilde Merete Aasheim, said this week.

Major talking points among copper market participants attending the annual LME Asia Week in Hong Kong this week are whether Chinese copper demand for April and May is weaker compared with previous years and when high domestic copper stocks in China will decrease.

Copper output by Chilean state-owned producer Codelco recovered in March 2019 but remained depressed when compared with last year’s figures, national copper commission Cochilco said on Wednesday May 8.

While spent lead-acid battery and cable lead prices in the United States slipped amid a decline in London Metal Exchange prices and softening demand, market participants shared mixed outlooks, with some anticipating steadiness and others wary of further price declines.

What to read next
The publication of the affected price was delayed for 29 minutes. The following assessment was published late: MB-ZN-0110 Zinc spot concentrate TC, cif China, $/per tonne This price is a part of the Fastmarkets Base Metals Physical Prices package. For more information or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of this price or if you […]
The publication of Fastmarkets’ price assessments of the base metals arbitrage for copper, aluminium, zinc and nickel for Friday August 1 were delayed due to reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ MB-ALU-0003 alumina index adjustment to fob Australia index, Brazil for Thursday July 31 was delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.
Key takeaways: US 50% tariffs on Brazil exclude pulp, other major exporting sectors US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order implementing an additional 40% tariff on Brazil, raising the total tariff to 50%, the White House said in a statement published on Wednesday July 30. The new tariffs will take effect in seven […]
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.