EUROPEAN MORNING BRIEF 19/01: SHFE aluminium, lead prices strengthen; zinc, lead markets log deficits in Oct-Nov 2017; Hudbay exceeds copper output guidance

Good morning from Metal Bulletin’s office in Shanghai, as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Friday January 19.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange gave a varied performance during Asian morning trading on Friday, with aluminium and lead prices pushing higher, while the rest were little changed to weaker.

Check Metal Bulletin’s live futures report here.

LME snapshot at 03.13am London time
Latest three-month LME Prices
  Price ($ per tonne) Change since previous session’s close ($)
Copper 7,093 16.5
Aluminium 2,197 -6
Lead 2,600 -10.5
Zinc 3,384 7.5
Tin 20,470 40
Nickel 12,370 -100

SHFE snapshot at 10.56am Shanghai time
Most-traded SHFE contracts
  Price (yuan per tonne) Change since previous session’s close (yuan)
Copper (March) 53,650 -20
Aluminium (March) 14,730 110
Zinc (March) 25,975 -20
Lead (February) 19,485 155
Tin  (May) 144,550 780
Nickel  (May) 96,080 -700

The global refined zinc and lead markets posted steep supply deficits in the first 11 months of 2017, according to preliminary data from the International Lead and Zinc Study Group.

HudBay Minerals Inc surpassed its 2017 copper production guidance but expects production to decline this year, the company said on Wednesday January 17.

Some copper scrap suppliers are shifting their focus overseas due to spotty demand in the US domestic market and more aggressive foreign offers.

Exporters of Commonwealth of Independent States-origin pig iron have held high prices on low material availability, while buyers are in wait-and-see mode amid high stocks.

What to read next
The publication of Fastmarkets’ assessments for nickel 4x4 cathode, nickel briquette and nickel uncut cathode premiums in-whs Rotterdam was delayed on Tuesday July 16 because of a reporter error.
Fastmarkets has corrected its alumina index inferred prices, which were published incorrectly on Tuesday July 15.
The United States' copper recycling industry is ramping up pressure on policymakers to impose some form of export controls on high-purity copper scrap, arguing that current trade dynamics – particularly with China – are distorting prices, weakening domestic capacity and undermining national security goals.
Fastmarkets launched two new price assessments for Indonesia’s domestic trade in nickel ore on Tuesday July 15. The two price assessments are for domestic trades of Indonesian laterite ores with 1.6% and 1.2% nickel content. Indonesia now accounts for 60% of the global nickel supplies and while there is an official government reference price, known […]
US copper scrap market participants are shifting from COMEX to LME pricing in response to extreme price volatility and a new 50% copper import tariff. The change is influencing discount formulas, export strategies and long-term trading dynamics across the sector.
The proposal follows preliminary discussions with the market and internal analysis of price usage, which suggests low market liquidity and a lack of demand. Specifically, Fastmarkets is proposing to discontinue: MB-CU-0410 Copper rod premium, ddp Midwest US, US cents/lbQuality: Purity of 99.95-99.99%. Thicknesses of 8 millimeters or 0.3125 inchesQuantity: Min 25,000 poundsLocation: Delivered US MidwestUnit: US […]