ASIAN MORNING BRIEF 24/08: LME lead prices rally; Korea Resources opens talks to sell stake, offtake in First Quantum’s Cobre Panama copper mine; Chinese cobalt tetroxide prices under pressure

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Friday August 24.

Lead prices were up by more than 2% at the close of trading on the London Metal Exchange on Thursday August 23, while nickel, copper and tin prices struggled to maintain the midweek relief rally amid a resurgence of US-Sino trade tensions. Read more in our live futures report.

Here are how prices looked at the close of trading:

Korea Resources Corp (Kores) has initiated a sale process for its 10% stake and offtake agreement in First Quantum’s Cobre Panama copper mine, four sources with knowledge of the matter told Metal Bulletin.

China’s cobalt tetroxide prices have been under pressure over the past few months from high inventories, weak spot demand and substitution by battery makers, market participants said.

Mining companies active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have formed a new body to engage with the government on industry concerns about the country’s new mining code and any other material issue concerning the mining industry.

ArcelorMittal remains committed to its acquisition of Italian flat-rolled steel producer Ilva and to acting as a responsible owner and operator of the business, a company spokesman said on Thursday. A day earlier, Italian minister for economic development Luigi Di Maio said that the tender for the Ilva sale might be invalid.

The biggest steel producer in the United Arab Emirates, Emirates Steel, has rolled over offer prices for September-rolling rebar.

What to read next
During the extended consultation, Fastmarkets received comprehensive and wide-ranging feedback from a broad cross-section of the P1020A value chain.The majority of the market feedback received during the consultation was in support of Proposal 1, with most participants preferring its simpler, more coherent mechanism of reflecting CBAM costs than Proposal 2. Proposal 1: Reporters may apply expert […]
The London Metal Exchange has been fined $12 million by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for its role in the rollercoaster nickel market saga three years ago
This is a follow-up pricing notice to yesterday’s notice about the delay. The following prices were affected by this:MB-AL-0256 Aluminium fixing price for LME trade, rand/tonne MB-CU-0338 Copper fixing price for LME trade, rand/tonne MB-PB-0064 Lead fixing price for LME trade, rand/tonne MB-NI-0093 Nickel fixing price for LME trade, rand/tonne MB-SN-0005 Tin rand fixing price for LME trade, rand/tonne MB-ZN-0072 Zinc rand […]
A second pricing notice will follow when the pricing database has been updated.  The following prices have been affected by this:MB-AL-0256 Aluminium fixing price for LME trade, rand/tonne MB-CU-0338 Copper fixing price for LME trade, rand/tonne MB-PB-0064 Lead fixing price for LME trade, rand/tonne MB-NI-0093 Nickel fixing price for LME trade, rand/tonne MB-SN-0005 Tin rand fixing price for LME trade, […]
President Trump has threatened to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium to 50%, potentially escalating tensions in US-Canada trade relations. If implemented, this move could have significant economic consequences and may prompt retaliatory actions from Canada. The article examines the potential implications of this tariff hike and its impact on the steel and aluminium industries, as well as the broader trade dynamics between the two nations.
Fastmarkets is launching assessments of the MB-AL-0407 aluminium P1020A premium, cif Mexico, and the MB-AL-0406 aluminium 6063 extrusion billet premium, cif Mexico, on Tuesday March 11, and will also launch an assessment of the MB-AL-0408 aluminium low-carbon differential P1020A, cif Mexico, on Tuesday March 25. After a consultation period, Fastmarkets is launching assessments of the three […]