ASIAN MORNING BRIEF 03/04: Comex copper prices rise; China imposes tariffs vs US ali scrap products; silicon export market weakens

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Tuesday April 3.

Comex copper prices traded at a one-week high on Monday morning in the United States following a wave of positive Chinese manufacturing data. Read more in our live futures report.

The London Metal Exchange was closed on April 2 for Easter Monday.

China has dealt a serious blow to the US aluminium scrap industry, officially slapping a blanket 25% tariff on recycled aluminium from the nation effective April 2.

The Chinese silicon export market weakened further this past week, with exporters again lowering their quotes to attract business due to continued sluggish demand.

Copper stocks in the Shanghai-bonded zone rose due to a closed import arbitrage while nickel and zinc stocks fell in March, according to Metal Bulletin’s assessments.

In ferrous markets, an ArcelorMittal subsidiary has submitted an offer in its joint rebid for insolvent Indian steel producer Essar Steel India.

US merchant bar prices rose after domestic mill hikes took effect, with few discounts to be found, according to market participants.

China’s hot-rolled coil prices gained some strength on Monday, although trading thinned after the paper market lost steam during the day.

East China’s Shagang has reduced its long steel product prices for shipment in early April in the wake of a weakening spot market.

Canada’s Quebec Iron Ore, a subsidiary of Champion Iron Ltd, said last week that it it will ship 200,000 wet metric tons of high-grade 66% iron content concentrate to Asia.

What to read next
Freeport-McMoRan is in the process of ramping up its new copper smelter in Gresik, Indonesia, in a move that has seen the company switch away from being a marketer of concentrates as it becomes a fully integrated producer in the country, the company's chief executive officer Kathleen Quirk told Fastmarkets in an interview during the London Metal Exchange (LME) Week 2024.
Long-term demand trends in the copper sector may reduce cyclical price moves driven by short term factors impacting sentiment, Freeport-McMoRan's chief executive officer Kathleen Quirk told Fastmarkets in an interview during the London Metal Exchange (LME) Week 2024.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ price assessments of calcined alumina on Thursday October 3 were delayed due to a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ India import aluminium scrap price assessments for Wednesday October 2 were delayed because of the Gandhi Jayanti public holiday in India. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.
Chilean copper producer Codelco has not yet concluded negotiations for its 2025 premium offer to European customers but remains optimistic that the recent stimulus in China will provide a further boost to demand, the company’s chairman told Fastmarkets.
The copper concentrates market was suffering from a dislocation that would probably lead to smelting cuts, the chairman of Chilean state-owned producer Codelco has said.