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

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

Tata Steel has reduced output at its steel production sites in India and Europe due to decreased demand, and to obey the temporary regulations imposed to tackle the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the company said on Wednesday April 1.

Norsk Hydro has decided to postpone adding 95,000 tonnes per year to capacity at the Husnes aluminium plant in Norway in light of the rapidly deteriorating market conditions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rio Tinto has declared force majeure on shipments of copper cathode from its Kennecott copper mine in the US state of Utah following a 5.7-magnitude earthquake near the site last month.

Concerns that a tailings dam leak at a Chinese molybdenum mine could affect supplies pushed prices up in the first half of the week, but the uptrend is only expected to be short-lived, sources told Fastmarkets.

Minor metals and ores and alloys producers that rely on shipping routes out of South Africa are warning that practical barriers to producing and transporting material outweigh any technical green light to export, amid conflicting instructions from the country’s authorities.

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.
Find out how copper smelters are addressing demand challenges with innovative strategies at the Resourcing Tomorrow conference.
Explore Mercuria's new African copper joint venture with Gecamines, enhancing copper trade transparency and pricing.
Glencore copper output expected to drop as production difficulties at Collahuasi mine hinder 2026 forecast adjustments.
Explore the latest updates on Rio Tinto copper production, including its ambitious targets for 2025 and 2026.