IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from August 12

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Monday August 12 that are worth another look.

The main works at China Hongqiao Group were reported to have suffered from severe flooding caused by Super Typhoon Lekima, Fastmarkets learned, but the company has denied claims that it has been forced to stop production.

Nyrstar’s Port Pirie lead smelter in South Australia has incurred another production setback and its TSL furnace will be closed “for a number of weeks” for repairs, the company confirmed to Fastmarkets.

Peru’s Matarani port remained partially closed on Friday August 9 amid an indefinite strike being carried out in the southern province of Islay, making copper concentrate exports intermittent, according to multiple sources.

Investors are optimistic of the future of Brazilian mining under the new federal government and there should be new opportunities in the industry, Appian Brazil chief executive officer Paulo Castellari told Fastmarkets.

The London Metal Exchange has extended the consultation period on the issue of using electronic closing prices until September 30, 2019.

What to read next
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.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ assessments for nickel 4x4 cathode, nickel briquette and nickel uncut cathode premiums in-whs Rotterdam was delayed on Tuesday July 16 because of a reporter error.
Fastmarkets has corrected its alumina index inferred prices, which were published incorrectly on Tuesday July 15.
The United States' copper recycling industry is ramping up pressure on policymakers to impose some form of export controls on high-purity copper scrap, arguing that current trade dynamics – particularly with China – are distorting prices, weakening domestic capacity and undermining national security goals.
Fastmarkets launched two new price assessments for Indonesia’s domestic trade in nickel ore on Tuesday July 15. The two price assessments are for domestic trades of Indonesian laterite ores with 1.6% and 1.2% nickel content. Indonesia now accounts for 60% of the global nickel supplies and while there is an official government reference price, known […]