Hot-rolled coil prices in the United States dipped marginally on Tuesday December 29, moving just 7 cents per lb below the more than 12-year high reached a day earlier.

The United States Commerce Department is making changes to the way it administers the Section 232 tariff exclusion process.

Following a consultation period, Fastmarkets will change the publication day of its four China minor metals price assessments from Wednesday to Friday, 2-3pm London time.

Hot-rolled coil prices in the United States continue at record highs, with tags at or above $50 per hundredweight ($1,000 per short ton) - a level last seen during the bull rush of 2008.

Fastmarkets will discontinue its tin ingot premiums on a seaborne basis to China from the start of January.

The United Kingdom and European Union have reached an agreement on a trade deal that will ensure tariff-free trading of most goods between the country and the bloc after December 31 when the withdrawal transition period ends, easing metals and minerals market participants’ fears of logistics paralysis and material shortages.

Import prices for containerized ferrous scrap into Taiwan continued on an uptrend in the week to Thursday December 24 amid limited supply and strong demand.

The new coronavirus strain found in the United Kingdom has raised fears of scrap supply shortages which could feed the runaway prices in Asia, market sources told Fastmarkets in the week to Thursday December 24.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were up across the board this morning, Thursday December 24, while those on the London Metal Exchange were mixed.

Hot-rolled coil prices in the United States have moved above $50 per hundredweight ($1,000 per short ton) for the first time since early September 2008 thanks to a continuing supply shortage.