Chile’s Corfo on Friday February 19 filed an arbitration process with the International Chamber of Commerce against United States-based lithium miner Albemarle for allegedly underpaying royalties on its lithium sales, Corfo confirmed to Fastmarkets on Monday February 22.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were up significantly across the board this morning, Monday February 22, with all base metals on the LME setting fresh multi- month or year highs.

Century Aluminum sees United States President Joe Biden’s reinstatement of Section 232 tariffs on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a signal of his support for the tariff program implemented by his predecessor, an interpretation shared by many in the US aluminium market.

Copper traders are starting to place bets that the metal will hit $12,000 per tonne by December but market makers say bullishly positioned options are dragging the metal's price higher sooner than that.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were for the most part firmer this morning, Friday February 19, on the back of expectations for stronger demand from a widespread recovery and due to the underlying momentum.

Cash premiums of Brazilian soybeans in the paper market slumped on Wednesday as traders positioned bids sharply...

Chinese steelmakers looking to replenish steel scrap stocks after returning from their new year holiday on Thursday February 18, have raised bid prices for both domestic and imported material, sources told Fastmarkets.

Fastmarkets is proposing to launch a daily index for Italy’s domestic steel hot-rolled coil market to replace the existing weekly price assessment for the product in Southern Europe.

China’s metals industry returned from holiday to find metal prices were higher and it would appear have chased prices higher, with all the base metals on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange showing gains this morning, Thursday February 18.

Fastmarkets will launch a weekly import price assessment for steel billet on a cfr China basis from February 26 after a month of consultation.