JSW Steel USA’s production of its first fully degassed 12-inch slab at its mill in Mingo Junction, Ohio, could reduce the company’s reliance on imported slab, according to information obtained by Fastmarkets, raising questions about future demand for Brazilian exports at a time when the global slab market is already facing weaker demand and increasing competition.

Latin America's apparent steel consumption is expected to remain broadly stalled in 2026 before recovering more meaningfully in 2027, but the region's steel industry continues to face mounting pressure from rising imports and historically weak production levels, according to Latin American steel association Alacero.

Shin-Etsu Chemical, one of Japan’s largest manufacturers of rare earth magnets, plans to build a new domestic rare earths refinery in Fukui, Japan, as first reported by Nikkei Asia.

The Mexican containerboard market saw a rapid shift in June as reduced US paper exports forced buyers to refocus on domestic supply, triggering price increases.

Chinese zinc ingot exporters remain on standby on Monday June 22, after months of market positioning, with traders and smelters still waiting for a clearer margin signal before moving cargoes at scale, market participants told Fastmarkets.

Fastmarkets has launched four price assessments for Polish virgin kraftliner and white-top testliner on Thursday June 25.

Fastmarkets has amended the minimum tonnage in its aluminium P1020A(MJP), cif Japan, spot premium assessment to 500 tonnes from 100 tonnes, effective June 25, 2026.

Fastmarkets has amended its publication calendar to show that the daily southern yellow pine (SYP) price will be published on Tuesday June 30, which had previously been marked as a non-publishing day.

Fastmarkets proposes to introduce a dynamic volume weighting of trader and smelter purchases in the final index calculation, adjusted weekly based on reported price and volume data over a rolling six-month period. The proposed change affects only the weighting between traders’ and smelters’ purchases to calculate the copper concentrates TC/RC index, cif Asia Pacific. Currently, Fastmarkets applies a fixed 50:50 weighting for […]

Amid cost pressures and a volatile environment, the personal care industry in Latin America is turning to premiumization to strengthen resilience and meet evolving consumer demands.