EUROPEAN MORNING BRIEF 20/04: Most SHFE base metals reverse Thursday’s gains; China’s run-of-mine iron ore output; US copper scrap spreads tighten

Good morning from Metal Bulletin’s office in Shanghai as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Friday April 20.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly down during Asian morning trading on Friday, the exception being tin, which was marginally up on supply concerns due to export issues in Indonesia.

Aluminium and nickel have undergone a particularly steep pullback this morning following strong gains throughout the past week, which had been sparked by supply concerns following the United States’ imposition of sanctions on Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska’s assets, including UC Rusal.

Check Metal Bulletin’s live futures report here.

LME snapshot at 3.14am London time
Latest three-month LME Prices
  Price ($ per tonne) Change since previous session’s close ($)
Copper 6,969 15
Aluminium 2,454 -31
Lead 2,341 4
Zinc 3,242 19
Tin 21,550 100
Nickel 14,950 -125

SHFE snapshot at 11.00am Shanghai time
Most-traded SHFE contracts
  Price (yuan per tonne) Change since previous session’s close (yuan)
Copper (June) 51,520 -420
Aluminium (June) 15,025 -355
Zinc (June) 24,385 -145
Lead (June) 18,290 -60
Tin  (Sept) 148,630 350
Nickel  (July) 105,280 -2,840

China’s domestic iron ore output shrank in the first quarter of 2018 amid weaker prices for the material.

Copper and brass scrap markets in the United States have continued to feel the heat from strong overseas demand, which is prompting some domestic buyers to tighten discounts and raise prices to remain competitive.

China’s domestic stainless steel prices increased over the past week due to a recovery in demand and strong gains in the London Metal Exchange’s nickel price.

The growing adoption of electric vehicles throughout the automotive industry will force a significant shake-up in the lithium-ion battery industry in the coming years.

Rebar prices in the United States have risen after multiple mills announced $20-per-ton increases in a tight market, even as a leading producer remained silent.

What to read next
Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-AL-0346 Aluminium P1020A premium, in-whs dup Rotterdam, $/tonne that was published incorrectly on Thursday January 29.
Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-AL-0299 aluminium 6063 extrusion billet premium, ddp Spain that was published incorrectly on Friday January 23.
Learn about the recent trends in AI metals costs and their effect on lithium, copper and aluminium prices for energy storage.
Following a consultation period, which closed on January 14, Fastmarkets will increase the frequency of its MB-BX-0016 Bauxite, cif China, price assessment to a weekly basis, from a monthly basis. Fastmarkets will also extend the timing of the price to include cargoes for arrival within 90 days and move the publishing time to 7pm Shanghai time on Friday. […]
European aluminium scrap and secondary ingot prices are on the rise, driven by a significant shortage of scrap. Trade sources indicate that low generation has constrained domestic supply, and this is happening even before the expected EU scrap export restrictions in Spring 2026.
The capacity to smelt an additional volume of more than 800,000 tonnes per year of copper was advancing toward production readiness, Fastmarkets heard on Monday January 19.