Steelmakers in South Korea have been priced out of the deep-sea scrap market following deals by mills in Vietnam and Bangladesh over the past week, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday September 17.

Base metals prices on the LME and SHFE were mixed on the morning of Friday September 17, with most remaining listless despite being buffeted by a firmer US dollar, generally weaker economic data and disruption to both production and supply.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange largely edged up on the morning of Wednesday September 15 after a day of weakness, but those on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were weaker because they followed movements in London on Tuesday and reacted to weaker Chinese economic data.

Interest for ferrous scrap imports in Vietnam has increased during the week to Friday September 10 due to rebounding billet prices in China, sources told Fastmarkets.

Base metals prices were higher on both the LME and the SHFE this morning, Friday September 10, with the broader markets also up. Additionally, metals that were previously looking vulnerable now look less vulnerable, suggesting traders are still comfortable being exposed to the metals.

Steelmakers in the United States and the United Steelworkers (USW) union warned that a potential US accord with the European Union to end the dispute resulting from the former President Donald Trump administration’s Section 232 steel and aluminium tariffs could boost imports from Europe and hurt the domestic industry.

Poor demand in key import markets in Turkey and Asia continued to pull steel scrap prices downward in the week ended Friday September 3. High freight costs and a lack of container ships also damped spot trading liquidity.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were mixed on the morning of Friday September 3, but overall the picture is one of consolidation ahead of today's employment report from the United States.

Bauxite refining and alumina production will resume at New Day Aluminum's facility in Gramercy, Louisiana, in the United States, after operations were halted due to Hurricane Ida, major shareholder Concord Resources said on Thursday September 2.

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