The metals were looking robust this morning, Wednesday November 18, and for the most part are managing to drive higher despite concerns about the rapid spread of Covid-19 and some mixed economic data of late.

Improving demand for finished and semi-finished steel products across the major outlets has increased scrap prices in the major markets over the week to Friday November 13.

The price of shredded steel scrap imported into India and Pakistan moved up once again on Friday November 13, with material shortage and logistics issues still causing concern, sources told Fastmarkets.

A lack of offers in the market from suppliers, together with worsening problems with container freight, combined to raise Taiwan import scrap prices in the week to Friday November 13.

Fast-rising costs for container freight on a number of major shipping routes are causing disruption in trade flows for minerals and metals alike, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday November 12.

This month’s update to the USDA’s influential Wasde report unveiled an ambitious hike to US corn export targets, as...

Markets were generally buoyant on the back of relief that a potential Covid-19 vaccine has been found, but the metals also seem hesitant this morning, Tuesday October 11, about what this will mean to the markets given how much they have run up already since the March lows.

Base metals prices on both the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were mainly lower this morning, Tuesday November 10, while prices consolidated after Monday’s double dose of positive news - that of Joe Biden winning the US presidential election and Pfizer announcing progress toward a potential Covid-19 vaccine.

Base metals prices on both the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were mainly stronger this morning, Monday November 9, after markets reacted positively to Joe Biden winning the US presidential election and the resulting weaker dollar.

Imports of unwrought copper and copper products to China rose significantly in the first 10 months of this year, according to customs data released on Saturday November 7.