Aluminium premiums in Japan dropped by an average of $2.50 per tonne to $175-190 per tonne on Friday August 13, from $180-190 per tonne on August 10, with low buying interest weakening demand in recent weeks.

Global commodity prices are expected to stay high in the short term and China will continue to take measures to ensure supplies and stabilize prices, China’s National Bureau of Statistics said on Monday August 16.

Base metals prices on the LME were mainly weaker this morning, Wednesday August 11, after average rebound gains of 1.4% on Tuesday, while SHFE base metals prices were mainly stronger in reaction to yesterday's LME gains.

Steelmakers in the United States are poised to benefit as countries race to meet pledges to reach net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to the director of the US Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).

Stronger-than-expected United States employment figures on Friday August 6 turned the dollar higher, which weighed on prices, with most base metals weaker this morning, Monday August 9, but gold and silver underwent a ‘flash crash’ at the start of trading in Asia.

Brazilian aluminium association Abal has appointed a woman as executive president for the first time, with Janaina Donas taking over the role previously held by Milton Rego after a seven-month recruitment process, the group said on Thursday August 5.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed this morning, Wednesday August 4, and those on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were all weaker.

Base metals prices on both the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were generally weaker this morning, Tuesday August 3, with LME copper and SHFE aluminium bucking the trend, but the drop in US ten-year treasury yield hints of a pick-up in haven buying.

The recent Covid-19 outbreak across southeast Asia is weighing on Thai aluminium billet demand in the region after five months of price rises, sources told Fastmarkets.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were generally trending higher this morning, Monday August 2, with copper the metal that seems to be struggling the most. Base metals trading on the Shanghai Futures Exchange gave a mixed performance, however.