As the world's media spotlight falls on Afghanistan, Fastmarkets looks at why reported claims of incoming Chinese mining deals are unlikely to be fulfilled soon.

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday August 23 that are worth another look.

Turkish steelmakers skipped the first working day of the week with no deep-sea scrap trades, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday August 23.

Key data from Fastmarkets’ pricing sessions in Europe, China and the United States on Friday August 20.

Increasingly higher bulk freight rates have resulted in deep-sea cargoes of ferrous scrap being offered at higher prices to Bangladesh in the past week, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday August 20.

July imports of steel scrap to South Korea increased both on a month-on-month and year-on-year basis following another strong month in June, according to data from the Korea International Trade Association.

Aluminium premiums in Japan dropped by an average of $2.50 per tonne to $175-190 per tonne on Friday August 13, from $180-190 per tonne on August 10, with low buying interest weakening demand in recent weeks.

Global ferrous scrap prices have continued to fall in the week to August 13 due to high freight rates, Covid-19 outbreaks in importing countries and poor downstream steel demand.

Spot prices for imported containerized ferrous scrap in Taiwan started rebounding in the week to Friday August 13 due to increasing seller reluctance to offer lower prices given the widening price gap with bulk cargoes, market sources told Fastmarkets.

Steelmakers in the United States are poised to benefit as countries race to meet pledges to reach net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to the director of the US Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).