China’s import premiums for copper cathode are in free fall, and market sentiment remained very low in current unfavorable import condition. Premiums in other regions held unmoved.

Toyota Tsusho Corp, the joint sales and marketing agent for lithium chemicals from Orocobre’s Olaroz lithium works, has signed contracts to supply battery-grade lithium carbonate to two leading Chinese cathode manufacturers, Orocobre said.

Australian lithium-spodumene producer Altura Mining has appointed Alex Cheeseman chief executive officer with immediate effect, the company said on Friday April 16.

Australian lithium miners Galaxy Resources and Orocobre have entered into a binding merger implementation deed that will see the latter acquire 100% of the fully paid ordinary shares in the former, the companies announced on Monday April 19.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were for the most part stronger this morning, Friday April 16, supported by robust economic data, while the base metals on the London Metal Exchange were consolidating after yesterday’s strength, which followed strong US data.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange have been edging higher in recent days, although this morning, Thursday April 15, they were looking mixed, while those on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were for the most part firmer.

A summary of Australia-based spodumene concentrate miner Galaxy Resources’ preliminary results for the first quarter of 2021, released on Monday April 12.

The London Metal Exchange three-month nickel price was down by 2.8% to $16,165 per tonne during morning trading on Monday April 12, with the other base metals also starting the week lower after turning to the downside last Friday following comments out of China regarding rising commodity prices.

Import prices for ferrous scrap in Vietnam are still increasing due to a strengthening downstream steel market, though the rate of increase has slowed, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday April 9.

India is stepping back from importing ferrous scrap and aiming to become a more self-sufficient steelmaker. But what issues led to this change of tactics and how will it affect global scrap trade flows? Fastmarkets investigates.