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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from December 19

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Thursday December 19 that are worth another look.

December 20, 2019
By Generic people page
Base metals Copper

What’s in store for the steel and scrap markets in 2020?

Most copper scrap discounts in the United States increased as the Comex copper price continued to strengthen week on week.

Spot market prices for alloy-grade and standard-grade cobalt diverged in the first half of the week.

Two weeks of strikes in protest against government plans to reform pension arrangements have delayed some minor metals deliveries that will now be postponed until 2020.

The Chinese ferro-silicon market has been steady over the past week amid firm quotations from producers.

What to read next
Proposal to amend specifications of Fastmarkets US copper cathode premium and all-in price
Following an initial consultation with the market, Fastmarkets is proposing to:  The new specifications would be as follows, with amendments in italics: MB-CU-0002 Copper grade 1 cathode premium, ddp Midwest US, US cents/lb Quality: Grade A 99.9935% min copper cathode conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:2022 – Cu-CATH-1 or Grade 1 Electrolytic Copper Cathode ATSM B1115-10 Quantity: Min […]
June 13, 2025
 · 
By Rae Boyadjis
Box, Indoors, Interior Design
Key raw materials and the cost of fast-moving consumer goods
Fastmarkets’ 2025 outlook for key raw materials and ingredients used in the production and distribution of fast-moving consumer goods.
June 13, 2025
 · 
By the Fastmarkets team
copper production growth strategy
Vale Base Metals aiming to join top-five in copper, nickel production – CEO Shaun Usmar says
Vale Base Metals plans to boost annual copper production to 700,000 tonnes by 2035, aiming to become a top-five global producer of nickel and copper. CEO Shaun Usmar highlights a focus on productivity, cost optimization and sustainable growth. With strong assets in Canada and Brazil, Vale is well-positioned to meet rising global demand.
June 12, 2025
 · 
By James McKeigue
Correction to alumina index, fob Australia, plus derived prices, on June 2/3: pricing notice
Fastmarkets has corrected its fob Australia alumina index, which was published incorrectly on Monday June 2 and Tuesday June 3 due to a back-end calculation error. Fastmarkets has also corrected all the related inferred indices. On June 2 the following prices were published incorrectly: Fastmarkets’ MB-ALU-0002 Alumina index, fob Australia, was published in error as $375.59 per […]
June 4, 2025
 · 
By James McKeigue
Steel, Aluminium, Blade
Ambitious investment in scrap-intensive sectors a boon for Mexican non-ferrous secondary markets
Mexico’s strategic role in automotive nearshoring is fueling demand for recycled aluminium, with investment in scrap-intensive sectors boosting its non-ferrous secondary markets. Despite tariff uncertainties, USMCA compliance and EV production growth continue to attract global manufacturers.
June 3, 2025
 · 
By Amy Hinton
copper mine
Goldcorp founder Rob McEwen bets big on Argentine copper
Goldcorp founder Rob McEwen is back in the spotlight with a bold bet on copper in Argentina. The $2.5 billion Los Azules project, set to become Argentina’s first major copper mine in over 30 years, is reshaping the country’s mining industry while raising sustainability standards. Positioned as a key player in addressing a global copper shortage, the project highlights innovation, persistence and a commitment to meeting the growing demand from global electrification.
June 3, 2025
 · 
By James McKeigue