Tin market participants say they saw the record-breaking squeeze coming, but in pandemic-time trading, how does it get back to normal?

Teck Resources has agreed to supply China's largest zinc smelter with zinc concentrates from its Red Dog mine this year, diversifying the market for what is one of the world's biggest exporters of the metal.

Apart from aluminium, base metals prices on both the London Metal Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange were firmer this morning, Tuesday March 30, with broader markets also firmer having partially shook off, for now, contagion worries from last week’s hedge fund troubles.

The 2021 annual benchmark negotiations for lead and zinc concentrate treatment charges (TCs) continue, with aggressive bids and offers reportedly being pushed by major miners and smelters.

Mexico will remain a net importer of finished steel and is facing a challenge, with its scrap deficit expected to swell by 2025, a McKinsey & Co executive said.

Asia will soon be hit by a “steel tsunami”, a veteran trader in Vietnam told Fastmarkets recently, with a combination of factors expected to keep prices high into the second and third quarters of 2021.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mainly lower this morning, Monday March 29, but those on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were stronger across the board while they reacted to Friday’s LME performance.

Vietnamese buyers have been seeking bulk deep-sea ferrous scrap to make up for a lack of supply from Japan, market sources told Fastmarkets.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange were for the most part stronger this morning, Friday March 26, suggesting overall sentiment remains bullish while participants see dips as a buying opportunity.

Turkish scrap import prices have gone down, as expected, with news of a UK cargo being sold at the end of last week coming to light on Thursday March 25.