IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from April 2

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday April 2 that are worth another look.

China’s threshold for electric vehicles to receive subsidies in 2019 has been increased again while the value of subsidies has been cut sharply, which was expected by the majority of market participants who are now cautiously checking the resulting impact on the battery supply chain. 

The global market for direct-reduced (DR)-grade pellets continues to suffer from a shortage after being aggravated by Vale’s dam collapse in late January, which has pushed the DR pellet premium up further, Fastmarkets has learned.

Tianqi Lithium Kwinana Pty Ltd, the wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese lithium producer Tianqi Lithium, has signed two strategic supply agreements for battery-grade lithium hydroxide separately with SK Innovation Co Ltd and EcoPro BM Co Ltd, the producer said.

Copper stocks in Shanghai-bonded warehouses rose for a fifth consecutive month in March, hitting a 20-month high by the end of the month, after Chinese smelters continued to deliver cargoes into the bonded zone to take advantage of an export arbitrage that has been in place since mid-February.

Treatment charges for spot zinc concentrate continued to rise in March with deals over the $300-per-tonne mark made for clean cargoes.

What to read next
Explore the base metals outlook 2026 and learn how market trends are impacting copper, tin, and other metals this year.
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the pricing frequency of its copper grade A cathode premium, delivered Germany; copper grade A cathode premium, cif Leghorn; and copper EQ cathode premium, cif Europe to one a week from the current fortnightly basis, effective December 30.
Understand the dynamics of Saudi Arabia steel scrap prices with insights on local market conditions and demand fluctuations.
Fastmarkets wishes to clarify details around the pricing calendar for its MB-FEU-0001 Ferro-tungsten basis 75% W, in-whs dup Rotterdam; MB-FEV-0001 Ferro-vanadium basis 78% V min, 1st grade, ddp Western Europe; and MB-FN-0001 Ferro-niobium 63-67% delivered consumer works, dp, Europe price assessments owing to the year-end festive period.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ black mass inferred prices for Monday December 8 were delayed due to a technical error. Fastmarkets pricing database has been updated.
This price is a part of the Fastmarkets scrap package. For more information on our North America Ferrous Scrap methodology and specifications please click here. To get in touch about access to this price assessment, please contact customer.success@fastmarkets.com.