Spot trading in the copper concentrate market was inactive in the week to Friday September 29, with Chinese participants in holiday mode ahead of China’s weeklong break for the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day (September 29-October 6)

Participants in Europe’s copper industry struck a pessimistic tone in conversations with Fastmarkets in the lead-up to LME Week, with sources saying that weak demand, high interest rates and a poor macro-economic environment were dampening the mood in the industry

Uncertainty over growing bullish sentiment in the cobalt market is among the main conversation topics likely to feature in meetings throughout LME Week, which runs from October 9-13

Investment for new projects outside of China and acceptance that synthetic graphite will continue to play a role in supplying the anode battery sector are key for the development of the nascent European graphite market, according to panelists at Fastmarkets’ European Battery Raw Materials conference in Amsterdam

Bears out of hibernation ahead of October ferrous scrap trade

The publication of Fastmarkets’ EU, UK stainless steel scrap prices was delayed because of a technical error on Friday September 29.

The relatively high costs for black mass material meant that some recyclers in China and Southeast Asia were turning away from purchases of such powders in favor of other options

EU regulation to go into effect in 2025 will require all ships to minimize the yearly average greenhouse gas emissions intensity

France-based metallurgy firm Eramet and utility company Suez announced this week that they will begin the recycling of electric vehicle (EV) batteries at a site in Dunkirk, northern France, beginning in 2025