Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mainly firmer this morning, Monday December 14, following the pullback from highs at the end of last week, but the base metals on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mainly weaker while they followed Friday’s weakness on the LME.

The price of shredded steel scrap imported into India and Pakistan crossed $400 per tonne on Friday December 11 as a result of high international prices and tight shipping availability, sources told Fastmarkets.

The base metals remain upbeat this morning, Tuesday December 8, and the underlying story remains the same, infrastructure spending, economic recovery, a mass of liquidity and the potential for more US stimulus.

Kyiv-based Kernel – Ukraine’s largest sunflower oil producer – said its 2021 outlook is “uninspiring” as it foresees significant...

The base metals were mixed this morning, Monday November 23, but the underlying trends remain bullish following recent fresh highs in most of the metals.

The base metals were generally upbeat this morning, Friday November 20, supported by demand expectations and a weaker dollar.

The metals were looking robust this morning, Wednesday November 18, and for the most part are managing to drive higher despite concerns about the rapid spread of Covid-19 and some mixed economic data of late.

After the outbreak of the global pandemic, governments around the world sought measures to relieve the economic pressures of imposed lockdowns, mainly in the form of stimulus packages.

Improving demand for finished and semi-finished steel products across the major outlets has increased scrap prices in the major markets over the week to Friday November 13.

In the closing session of this year’s International Ferroalloys, which was held virtually November 9-11, Fleur Ritzema, global minors, ores and alloys editor at Fastmarkets, and Fastmarkets' analysts Amy Bennett and Robert Cartman summed up the key market drivers for the rest of 2020 and beyond.