Alex Kershaw unpacks the recent volatility in global scrap steel markets and what is driving price movements across key regions. From the US and Europe to Turkey and China, the discussion explores how rising energy and freight costs are lifting prices despite weak steel demand.

In this short episode of Fast Forward, Alex Kershaw, senior analyst for steel, raw materials and ferrous scrap at Fastmarkets, unpacks the recent volatility in global scrap steel markets and what is driving price movements across key regions.

As Brazil implemented protective measures against Chinese flat steel — enforcing anti-dumping duties on cold-rolled coil, coated steel, and pre-painted steel sequentially since early 2026 — China's monthly exports of finished steel to the country declined to their lowest levels since 2024, significantly reducing a market that previously consumed over 400,000 tonnes per month.

The following price was affected: MB-STE-0923 Flat steel reduced carbon emissions, daily inferred, exw China, yuan/tonne, scheduled for 5-6pm China Standard Time (Shanghai), was published at 9:13pm. This price is part of the Fastmarkets steel package. For more information or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of this price, or if you would like […]

Europe's green steel ambitions were built on affordable hydrogen that hasn't materialised. Thyssenkrupp and Salzgitter delays, scaled-back supply targets, and a shift to dual-fuel DRI configurations now define the transition.

Based on preliminary market feedback, market participants noted that smaller-sized spot market transactions may be skewed and not reflective of the wider market. The aluminium P1020A(MJP), cif Japan, assessment specification which has a minimum tonnage of 100 tonnes will be amended to 500 tonnes after the proposed change. The proposed new specifications are as follows, […]

The publication of Fastmarkets’ MB-STE-0421 Steel scrap shredded, index, import, cfr Nhava Sheva, India was delayed because of a peer reviewer error. The Fastmarkets pricing database has been updated.

The following prices were affected: MB-STE-0892 – Steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Italy, € per tonne MB-STE-0028 – Steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, € per tonne. These prices are part of the Fastmarkets steel package. For more information, or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of these indices, or if you would […]

Vietnam’s ambitions to become a burgeoning processing hub for secondary metals is hitting a wall of private-sector skepticism, Fastmarkets heard on the sidelines of the Third China Metal Recycling Spring Conference (CMRA 2026) held in Hanoi, Vietnam on May 9-12.

Fastmarkets consulted the market on the proposed change between April 3 and May 11, 2026. Some feedback was received regarding the publication times of nickel pig iron and laterite ore prices. Fastmarkets will adjust the initially proposed publication times accordingly and proceed with the changes. This decision was first proposed in a methodology note published […]