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 […]

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 […]

Fastmarkets proposes to amend the frequency of publication of its four containerboard assessments for East China from once monthly currently to twice monthly.

Fastmarkets proposes to launch four twice-monthly price assessments for recycled containerboard on a delivered South China basis.