Premiums for special high grade (SHG) zinc ingot in Europe reached new record highs on Tuesday August 30 because of concerns over supply disruptions, while those in China and the United States held steady amid illiquid spot trading conditions.

Deliverable stocks of base metals at Shanghai Futures Exchange-registered warehouses were on divergent paths in the week to Friday August 26, with copper topping the gains in percentage terms, while tin led the declines

Physical metal and London Metal Exchange warrant traders have voiced increasing concerns to Fastmarkets over the current low stock levels in LME-listed warehouses globally

All industrial activity in Sichuan province in southern China is being curtailed to divert tight energy supplies to households from Monday August 15 until Saturday August 20

Fastmarkets has amended the frequency of its assessments of London Metal Exchange base metals warrant premiums to fortnightly from weekly

Fastmarkets used the London Metal Exchange base metals prices at 9:41am London time for the arbitrage calculations on Monday May 23, because there was no data available at 8:00am due to a system error.

Availability and the costs of trucking are now starting to significantly impact the flow of material in continental Europe, putting pressures on supply chains and keeping base metals premiums elevated, participants have told Fastmarkets

The build-up of Shanghai bonded copper stocks continued in April, albeit at a slower pace, with restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 disrupting logistics, particularly earlier in the month

Nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange had fallen by 4% at the 5pm close of trading on Friday March 25, after another week of disruptions.

Fastmarkets has corrected the LME Asian reference and TAPO prices for March 18, which were published incorrectly due to a technical error.