IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from December 31

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday December 31 that are worth another look.

Hebei Steel, China’s second largest steel mill, released its purchase price for silico-manganese at 6,600 yuan ($944) per tonne for January delivery, up by 650 yuan per tonne from its December tender price, market participants told Fastmarkets.

Flat steel import offer prices in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia increased this week, despite demand being weak in the run up to the end of the year, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday.

China’s rebar prices rose in the east on December 31, bolstered by restocking activity by stockists in expectation of price increases in January.

Chilean copper output fell by 6.7% year on year in November due to a combination of nationwide protests and operational problems, national statistics institute INE said on December 31.

The domestic price for hot-rolled coil in Northern Europe was unchanged on December 31 due to limited trading activity, sources told Fastmarkets.

What to read next
Half a million tonnes of copper is sitting in US warehouses, and the traders who put it there are starting to wonder whether they’ve built a hedge, or a trap.
European automotive procurement faces growing complexity due to regional cost volatility and policy-driven supply chains reshaping material pricing and sourcing strategies. This demands granular, region-specific market intelligence for precise cost modeling and strategic decision-making.
The assessment, which currently follows the UK holiday calendar, will follow the Singapore holiday calendar after the proposed change. There will be no change to the publication timing, and the assessment will continue to be published weekly on Wednesdays, at 7pm Singapore time. The purpose of the adjustment is to align the timing to the […]
JX Advanced Metals, Mitsui Kinzoku, Marubeni and Mitsubishi Materials(MMC) inked a deal to integrate MMC's copper concentrate procurement and related products sales business into Pan Pacific Copper (PPC), marking a significant consolidation of Japan's copper concentrate purchasing sector amid persistent pressure from weak treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs).
The publication of Fastmarkets’ assessments of the nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, in-whs Shanghai, and the nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, cif Shanghai for Tuesday May 26 were delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated. The following prices were affected:MB-NI-0143 Nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, in-whs Shanghai, […]
Copper producers, including Atlas Mining, reported higher earnings in the first quarter of 2026 on the back of elevated copper prices, while concentrate output declined at several operations in Chile, Brazil, Colombia and the Philippines due to lower ore grades and disruptions, according to company results reviewed by Fastmarkets.