Turkish steel producers made no new scrap bookings on Friday August 27, ending the working week with a single cargo deal amid limited finished steel sales, market participants said.

One western aluminium producer has extended an offer for fourth-quarter delivery aluminium to Main Japanese ports (MJP) at a premium of $250 per tonne cif, market participants told Fastmarkets on Friday August 27.

Fastmarkets proposes to increase the pricing frequency for its spodumene assessment to fortnightly.

Producers actions to reduce losses raise raw material costs, the market now braces for Q4 hikes

Fastmarkets on Thursday August 26 launches a fortnightly assessment of the China pig iron import price, reported on a US-dollar-per-tonne-cfr-China basis.

The global markets for containerized freight have entered even deeper water in recent weeks, with closures at the key port of Ningbo-Zhoushan in China leading to worsening cargo delays, port congestion and a further cutback in free days.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mainly weaker on the morning of Wednesday August 25, although they had previously rebounded from last week’s weakness.

Shanghai-listed Hainan Mining says it will invest no more than 1.065 billion yuan ($164 million) for the construction of a 20,000-tonnes-per-year battery-grade lithium hydroxide plant in Dongfang Lingang Industrial Park in China’s Hainan province.

As the world's media spotlight falls on Afghanistan, Fastmarkets looks at why reported claims of incoming Chinese mining deals are unlikely to be fulfilled soon.

Domestic prices for steel rebar in Russia’s Central Federal District widened downward by 3,500 roubles ($47) per tonne in the week to Monday August 23.