Fastmarkets has discontinued its UM Paper-branded Chinese prices from Wednesday October 1, following a strategic decision to close its UM Paper-branded publications which was originally announced in a notice published on July 28.

Geology not ideology: Why collaboration is key in the critical minerals supply chain

China set a higher target for automobile sales in 2025 compared with a year earlier, with the country aiming to keep the upward momentum in 2026, according to a notice published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Friday September 12.

Given the prevailing specifications of mid-grade iron ore fines and mid-grade Australia lump in the seaborne spot market, Fastmarkets proposes to launch the index to track and reflect the spot price of 60-63% Fe iron ore lump over the spot price of 61% Fe iron ore fines in the CFR Qingdao spot market, aligning with […]

Global veg oils futures were mixed on Friday September 5, trading with gains in China and edging lower in Chicago.

Chinese zinc smelters rejected Teck Resources’ proposal that they absorb the cost of a 10% reciprocal tariff against the US on the Canadian miner’s shipments of zinc concentrates from its Red Dog mine in Alaska, sources told Fastmarkets, highlighting the challenges producers are navigating as geopolitical risks rise.

Cost and availability concerns around copper have accelerated aluminium substitution in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, with aluminium now used in an estimated 40% of global units, Lionel Chapis, Norsk Hydro’s senior vice president of Hydro Precision Tubing, told Fastmarkets in an exclusive interview on Tuesday August 26.

Fastmarkets proposes to amend the specifications of its iron ore 62% Fe fines, fot Qingdao indices to align with the specifications for mid-grade sinter fines in China’s portside market.

Fastmarkets launches MB-FEN-0008 nickel pig iron, high-grade NPI content 10-14%, cif China, yuan/nickel unit price on Friday August 15.

Steel’s future is being forged in a crucible of competing demands. As the global push for greener production gains momentum, today’s market continues to favor low-cost, lower-grade ores. This “iron ore paradox” puts producers, investors and policymakers at a pivotal intersection. While economic realities make lower-grade ores attractive now, the industry can’t ignore the drive to decarbonize steel production.