IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from December 18

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday December 18 that are worth another look.

Brazilian flat steel producers are seeking price increases of around 5-8% in 2020 annual contract talks with automakers, according to several market participants.

The United States and China reaching a partial trade agreement elicited a muted response from metals markets this week.

Manganese miner Tshipi has recorded a 54% year-on-year drop in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) in the three months to November 30, 2019 amid falling manganese ore prices.

Spot activity was low across zinc markets in Asia, Europe and the United States in the week ended Tuesday December 17 with much of the focus on next year’s contractual supply premium discussion.

Consumers of batteries are seeking more price transparency in the lithium market, Albemarle said, while predicting the market will move to undersupply by the middle of the next decade.

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The publication of Fastmarkets' assessment of laterite ore with 1.6% nickel content, Indonesia domestic trade, delivered for Monday June 15, 2026 was delayed due to the unavailability of the latest Indonesian government mineral reference prices (HMA). Fastmarkets’ pricing database will be updated upon the release of the latest HMA.
Fastmarkets wishes to clarify details around the following aspects of the pricing methodology for MB-NI-0244 nickel sulfate min 21%, max 22.5%; cobalt 10ppm max, exw China.
Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-MNO-0002 manganese ore semi carbonate index, 36.5% Mn, fob Port Elizabeth, which was published incorrectly on Friday June 5 due to incorrect source data.
A United Auto Workers (UAW) strike at the American Axle factory in Three Rivers, Michigan, that began on Monday June 1 could lead to reduced demand for automotive steel if not resolved quickly, but analysts disagree on whether it will ultimately have a significant impact.
The MB-MNO-0003 Manganese ore semi carbonate index, 36.5% Mn, cif Tianjin, $ per dmtu was published in error as $4.75 per dry metric tonne unit. It has been corrected to $4.74 per dmtu. The rationale for the same index on the same date was also updated to reflect this change. It erroneously stated that “Fastmarkets’ manganese ore semi-carbonate […]
The publication of Fastmarkets’ price assessments for MB-FEO-0004 molybdenum, MB drummed molybdic oxide Mo, in-whs Busan; for MB-FEO-0003 molybdenum, drummed molybdic oxide, 57% Mo min, in-whs Rotterdam; and for MB-FEO-0001 ferro-molybdenum, 65% Mo min, in-whs Rotterdam, was delayed on Monday June 8 owing to slow data processing.