The central Mexican market, or the Bajío region, is a main hub for steel market activity in Mexico because of its proximity to ports on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and because of the many participants in the region (one blast furnace, 12 electric-arc furnaces, four rolling mills and over 10 big traders). This market […]

LME zinc stocks have fallen to their lowest levels since April 2023 but traders suggest the withdrawals are driven more by warehouse activity and speculation than genuine demand. Meanwhile, Europe’s sluggish consumption contrasts with swelling inventories in China.

Fastmarkets has launched the monthly price assessment for steel billet, import, cfr Saudi Arabia, to reflect the increasing volume of billet imports into Saudi Arabia, where steel demand was expected to improve due to large infrastructure projects such as the football World Cup 2034 and Saudi Expo 2030. Currently, Saudi Arabia has capacity for about 14.5 […]

Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-CU-0287 copper concentrates TC index, cif Asia Pacific, which was published incorrectly on Friday September 26 due to an error in the approval process. The rationale for MB-CU-0287 copper concentrates TC index, cif Asia Pacific, had erroneously stated that a bid had been reported in negative territory at around the […]

Market participants active in the aluminium and copper scrap and primary aluminium markets reported continued bearish markets with relief not expected in the near term during conversations at the Recycled Materials Association Roundtables in Chicago from September 10-12.

Steel imports into Brazil are expected to decline further as Chinese tax changes and weak domestic demand weigh on the market. With interest rates at two-decade highs, both imports and local production are under pressure, though 2026 could bring short-term recovery tied to election-year stimulus.

Fastmarkets will launch a price assessment for MB-BAR-0021 Barite, drilling grade, unground lump, bulk, SG 4.30 fob Vietnam on Thursday September 25 and has discontinued its MB-BAR-0004 Barite, API, 1.5t big bags, ground, fob Southern Turkey price assessment. The final assessment of MB-BAR-0004 took place on August 28 and all short-term forecasts associated with the […]

Mexico will impose tariffs on around 1,400 imported products from countries with which it does not have a trade agreement, according to Mexican government officials, in a move that industry sources say signals alignment with the US but could have “mixed effects” for the steel industry.

Fastmarkets is extending the consultation period for its proposal to amend the specifications of its weekly price assessment for MB-STE-0037 Steel reinforcing bar (Rebar) domestic, exw Italy, €/tonne amid diverse feedback. Fastmarkets initially proposed a transition from an assessment of an effective price to an assessment of a base price alongside the provision of official extras in […]

China set a higher target for automobile sales in 2025 compared with a year earlier, with the country aiming to keep the upward momentum in 2026, according to a notice published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Friday September 12.