South Korea has stepped up its efforts to support its steel sector, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and tariff pressures elsewhere, by including the sector in a $54 billion support package for key industries in the country, Fastmarkets understands.

Recent Middle Eastern tensions and a sharp drop in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could present a major opportunity for Russian pulp producers.

The proposal follows Fastmarkets’ observations that the commodity sees inactive spot liquidity and low volatility in prices. The proposed new specifications for the prices are as follows, with the amendments in italics: MB-NI-0246 Nickel sulfate, cif Japan and Korea, $/tonneQuality: Accepted by buyer for use in battery applications with chemical composition: Ni content, base 22.3% […]

The four assessments will cover continental Europe and the UK, for tissue jumbo rolls made from wood pulp and recycled pulp in a basis weight range of 14.5-18.0g per square meter. The decision follows a one-month consultation period that ended on Saturday May 16. The proposed specifications are as follows: FP-TS-0009 Tissue, wood pulp jumbo rolls for […]

Fastmarkets is clarifying the publishing schedule for two Saudi Arabia steel price assessments following confirmation of the dates of the Eid al-Adha holiday.  The two price assessments affected are as follows: MB-STE-0909 – Steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Saudi Arabia, riyals/tonne MB-STE-0940 – Steel billet, import, cfr Saudi Arabia, $/tonne The domestic rebar price assessment […]

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.

Despite mixed signals on box demand, significant capacity reductions and rising costs are enabling US containerboard producers to push for a second major price increase this year.

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 […]