Become a customer

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from December 24

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday December 24 that are worth another look.

December 25, 2019
By Generic people page
Base metals Copper

The recent downtrend in spot ferro-chrome prices in China was capped by strength in the domestic stainless steel market, while the European and US markets were flat ahead of the Christmas holiday break.

Aluminium premiums in South Korea rose in the week ending Tuesday December 24, while the main Japanese ports (MJP) spot premium was steady following last week’s increase.

Katanga Mining subsidiary Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) will buy land rights from La Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines) covering areas next to KCC’s existing mining concessions.

A Brazilian federal court has removed a major hurdle keeping mining major Vale from acquiring fellow miner Ferrous Resources.

Import prices for steel slab in Southeast Asia and East Asia experienced an uptick over the past week amid rebounding flat steel prices in the region.

What to read next
Supply concerns, challenges ahead for secondary copper, blister into China | 2025 preview
Participants in the market for copper scrap and blister in China, the world’s largest importer of copper raw materials, expect there to be fiercer competition for material in 2025, industry sources told Fastmarkets in the week to Thursday January 9.
January 17, 2025
 · 
By Sally Zhang
PGI’s Lobito Corridor rail network to unlock African copper belt: US State Dept exec | Hotter Commodities
Africa’s first transcontinental rail network, known as the Lobito Corridor, which aims to eventually connect almost the entire regional copper-cobalt belt with additional links across sub-Saharan Africa, is on track to break ground early in 2026, a senior official at the US Department of State told Fastmarkets.
January 17, 2025
 · 
By Andrea Hotter
Architecture, Building, House
How has the DRC become a powerhouse in the copper industry?
The availability of relatively untapped resources, a huge influx of Chinese investment and a rapid licensing system have helped the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to become one of the world’s three key producers of copper.
January 16, 2025
 · 
By Albert MacKenzie
Transportation, Truck, Vehicle
European metal scrap industry urges against EU action on exports
The European steel and aluminium scrap industries urged the European Commission on Wednesday January 15 against taking action to curb scrap exports after domestic industry metals producers backed measures to do just that.
January 16, 2025
 · 
By Declan Conway
Could Southeast Asia become the next big aluminium scrap processing hub in 2025?
Renewed US-China trade tensions with Donald Trump’s second presidential term could bolster Southeast Asia’s aluminium scrap industry in 2025, particularly amid still-growing Chinese demand, sources told Fastmarkets by Tuesday, January 14.
January 15, 2025
 · 
By Ross Yeo
Road, Architecture, Building
Europe steel, aluminium bodies urge EU action on scrap exports
European steel and aluminium producers have urged the European Commission to take immediate and effective action to tackle "scrap leakage" so that the European Union can meet its sustainable development aims and secure industrial competitiveness.
January 15, 2025
 · 
By Declan Conway