Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday April 27 that are worth another look.

The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a shortage of ferrous scrap in many key supply locations, provoking a 21% rise in international scrap prices in just 12 days from April 3 to April 15. But despite this, domestic prices in many areas were settled lower in April’s monthly negotiations.

Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Northern Europe moved down over the week ended Friday April 24 due to limited demand and the bearish mood among buyers.

More provincial governments in China are offering incentives to companies to purchase base metal products, in a highly unusual move to avoid inventory piling up at a time of demand uncertainty, Fastmarkets understands from official documents and industry sources.

After a consultation period, Fastmarkets has amended the frequency of its cobalt hydroxide payable indicator, min 30% Co, cif China, to twice weekly.

Taiwan was the sole active buyer of ferrous scrap in the week ended Friday April 24 amid limited demand from other key markets.

Metals prices were for the most part stronger this morning, Monday April 27, as were Asian-Pacific equity indices, while gold prices were slightly weaker and US treasury yields were firmer - all suggesting a broad risk-on mood.

Base metals prices were mixed this morning, Friday April 24, after markets had to absorb weak flash purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data on Thursday, especially in the services sector where readings were 11.7 in the European Union and 27 in the United States, while manufacturing readings were also weak.

China’s Taison Group is planning to build 150,000 tonnes/yr of bamboo pulp, 200,000 tonnes/yr of uncoated fine paper (UFP) and 250,000 tonnes/yr of tissue paper capacity in Leshan city, Sichuan. The projects will be carried out at existing mills run by Sichuan Yongfeng Paper, the largest bamboo pulp producer in the country and an indirect […]

Fastmarkets FOEX is inviting feedback from the industry on the pricing methodologies for its PIX Packaging Europe price indices, as part of its newly announced annual methodology review process. This consultation, which is open until May 22th, 2020, seeks to ensure that our methodologies continue to reflect the physical market under indexation, in compliance with […]