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

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

The long-lasting downtrend in the international scrap market, which has pushed prices to three-year lows this month, has led to the point where steelmakers which use electric-arc furnaces (EAFs) have a significant advantage over those equipped with blast furnaces (BFs), which use iron ore as a feed.

The majority shareholder of aluminium producer UC Rusal has called on the London Metal Exchange to require aluminium producers using the exchange to reveal their carbon footprint, according to an executive at the Russian company.

Five private copper smelters in China have halted production because processing at market terms has become unfeasible due to a combination of weakening demand for end products, a tight copper concentrates market and the higher costs of complying with pollution standards.

Miners launch cheaper offer prices for manganese ore in response to declining demand from China.

Belgium-based battery-materials manufacturer Umicore has reached a multi-year supply agreement with South Korean battery maker LG Chem for nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cathode materials, Umicore said on September 23.

What to read next
The US aluminium industry is experiencing challenges related to tariffs, which have contributed to higher prices and premiums, raising questions about potential impacts on demand. Alcoa's CEO has noted that sustained high prices could affect the domestic market. While trade agreements might provide some relief, analysts expect premiums to remain elevated in the near term. However, aluminum demand is projected to grow over the long term, supported by the energy transition and clean energy projects. To meet this demand, the industry will need to increase production, restart idle smelters and address factors such as electricity costs and global competition.
Read Fastmarkets' monthly base metals market for May 2025 focusing on raw materials including copper, nickel aluminium, lead, zinc and tin.
The Mexico Metals Outlook 2025 conference explored challenges and opportunities in the steel, aluminum and scrap markets, focusing on tariffs, nearshoring, capacity growth and global trends.
China has launched a coordinated crackdown on the illegal export of strategic minerals under export control, such as antimony, gallium, germanium, tungsten and rare earths, the country’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Friday May 9.
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the frequency of Taiwan base metals prices from biweekly to monthly, and the delivery timing for the tin 99.99% ingot premium from two weeks to four weeks.
The US-China trade truce announced on May 12 has brought cautious optimism to China’s non-ferrous metals markets, signaling a possible shift in global trade. Starting May 14, the removal of additional tariffs has impacted sectors like battery raw materials, minor metals and base metals such as zinc and nickel, with mixed reactions. While the improved sentiment has lifted futures prices and trade activity, the long-term effects remain unclear due to challenges like supply-demand pressures and export controls.