Get started

EUROPEAN MORNING BRIEF 15/01: Most SHFE base metals prices weaker; Sherritt raises Ambatovy nickel, cobalt guidance; ABI smelter lockout pressures US Midwest Ali premium

Good morning from Metal Bulletin’s office in Shanghai, as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Monday January 15.

January 15, 2018
By Generic people page
Base metals Copper

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mostly lower during Asian morning trading on Monday after consolidation set in following last week’s gains, with only aluminium and nickel prices moving higher so far in the morning.

Check Metal Bulletin’s live futures report here.

LME snapshot at 03.04am London time
Latest three-month LME Prices
  Price ($ per tonne) Change since previous session’s close ($)
Copper 7,195 85
Aluminium 2,238 24
Lead 2,557.50 22.5
Zinc 3,415 31.5
Tin 20,290 15
Nickel 12,835 110

SHFE snapshot at 11.04am Shanghai time
Most-traded SHFE contracts
  Price (yuan per tonne) Change since previous session’s close (yuan)
Copper (March) 54,700 -100
Aluminium (March) 15,180 90
Zinc (March) 26,285 -90
Lead (February) 19,120 -130
Tin  (May) 145,300 -100
Nickel  (May) 99,900 330

Sherritt International Corp expects finished nickel and cobalt production at its Ambatovy mine in Madagascar to rise in 2018, the company said last Friday.

News of the lockout at Aluminerie de Bécancour Inc’s (ABI’s) aluminium smelter in the Canadian province of Quebec appears to be the catalyst of the US Midwest P1020 premium’s push into double-digit territory, market participants told American Metal Market.

The US International Trade Commission has voted to allow a self-initiated Commerce Department anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigation into imports of Chinese common alloy aluminium sheet to continue, the agency said on Friday.

Price trends in the global billet market diverged in the week ended Friday January 12 because of a number of factors.

Export prices of steel billet from Latin America increased last week, amid higher global prices, Metal Bulletin has learned.

What to read next
Delayed publication of Shanghai nickel full plate premiums: pricing notice
The publication of Fastmarkets’ assessments of the nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, in-whs Shanghai, and the nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, cif Shanghai for Tuesday May 26 were delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated. The following prices were affected:MB-NI-0143 Nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, in-whs Shanghai, […]
May 27, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Copper coils up close
Hudbay, Capstone and Ero post strong Q1 results as lower grades weigh on copper concentrate output
Copper producers, including Atlas Mining, reported higher earnings in the first quarter of 2026 on the back of elevated copper prices, while concentrate output declined at several operations in Chile, Brazil, Colombia and the Philippines due to lower ore grades and disruptions, according to company results reviewed by Fastmarkets.
May 26, 2026
 · 
By Julienne Raboca
Fastmarkets amends publication times, holiday pricing schedule for Asian base metals assessments: pricing notice
The amendment follows the decision made on May 14, after a consultation period for the proposed changes which took place between April 3 and May 11. The changes were first proposed in a pricing note published on April 3.  The purpose of the changes is to align the publication times to the activity in the […]
May 21, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Proposal to amend frequency of cif Japan and Korea nickel sulfate assessments: pricing notice
The proposal follows Fastmarkets’ observations that the commodity sees inactive spot liquidity and low volatility in prices. The proposed new specifications for the prices are as follows, with the amendments in italics: MB-NI-0246 Nickel sulfate, cif Japan and Korea, $/tonneQuality: Accepted by buyer for use in battery applications with chemical composition: Ni content, base 22.3% […]
May 20, 2026
 · 
By Sybil Pan
Proposal to amend minimum tonnage specification for aluminium P1020A (MJP) spot Premium, cif Japan: pricing notice
Based on preliminary market feedback, market participants noted that smaller-sized spot market transactions may be skewed and not reflective of the wider market. The aluminium P1020A(MJP), cif Japan, assessment specification which has a minimum tonnage of 100 tonnes will be amended to 500 tonnes after the proposed change. The proposed new specifications are as follows, […]
May 18, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Fastmarkets decides to amend publication times, holiday pricing schedule for Asian base metals assessments: pricing notice
Fastmarkets consulted the market on the proposed change between April 3 and May 11, 2026. Some feedback was received regarding the publication times of nickel pig iron and laterite ore prices. Fastmarkets will adjust the initially proposed publication times accordingly and proceed with the changes. This decision was first proposed in a methodology note published […]
May 14, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team