Market insights

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First offers for full 2024 RTFC tickets suggest parity with 2023

Trade indications showing the first outright selling indications of renewable transport fuel certificates (RTFCs) for the 2024 compliance year heard in the market

August 29, 2023
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Insights
Freight rates rise again on strong demand

Increasing export volumes from Brazil and continued delays at the Panama Canal support demand

August 28, 2023
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By Eoin Hughes

Insights
Amendment to cobalt hydroxide $/lb cif China price, frequency

Fastmarkets will increase the publication frequency of the price for cobalt hydroxide 30% Co min, cif China, $/lb to daily from weekly from Friday September 1 following an open consultation over July 21-August 25.

August 28, 2023
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By Alexander Cook

Insights
EU to investigate alleged Indonesian biodiesel import tax evasion

According to the EU Commission, there may be enough evidence that the existing countervailing measures on imports of biodiesel are being circumvented

August 26, 2023
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By Alexandra Chapman, the Fastmarkets team, Misha Simonovska

Insights
Asian black mass buyers keep out of market amid weak lithium prices, high stocks

Black mass purchases in East and Southeast Asian markets have been hampered by lower battery raw materials metals prices and elevated inventory levels over the last week, according to sources

August 25, 2023
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By Lee Allen

Insights
UAW expects strike authorization; steel industry gauges impact

Authorization for the United Auto Workers union (UAW) to call a strike at one or more of the Big Three automakers appeared headed toward approval on Thursday August 24, according to a union spokesperson, bringing with it a potential sharp dip in steel demand

August 25, 2023
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By Robert England

Insights
US corn exports find window of opportunity before 2022-23

A reduction in Brazil's export price competitiveness in August may provide a chance to pick up last-minute sales

August 25, 2023
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By Jocelyn Garcia

Insights
US BSK pulp prices drop $50-80 due to oversupply, while BHK pulp prices skid $60-100

Both hardwood and softwood pulp demand remained weak but Suzano surprises with price hike announcement

August 24, 2023
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By Bryan Smith

Insights
European copper premiums under pressure; import conditions favorable in China

European spot copper market participants noted challenging market conditions in the week to Tuesday, August 22, with financing costs and weak demand putting downward pressure on premiums

August 24, 2023
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By Rijuta Dey, Sally Zhang, Albert MacKenzie

Insights
European softwood lumber exports to the US cooled in second quarter of 2023

Declining production in Europe has contributed to the fade in exports to the US

August 24, 2023
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By Peter Malliris

Insights

Top stories across markets

Supply surge pushes Chinese cobalt metal prices to eight-year low

Chinese cobalt metal prices plummeted on Friday July 26 to the lowest level since July 2016, which market participants attributed to a surge in production and weak downstream demand

July 30, 2024

By: Angeline Shi

China’s new rebar standards may deal another blow to domestic steelmakers

China’s revision of its national rebar standards, which is set to go into effect from September 2024, is expected to increase demand for vanadium nitrogen and silico-manganese amid a push for developing high-quality steel

July 30, 2024

By: Jessica Zong

China’s nickel sulfate price edges down on slow demand

China’s nickel sulfate prices dipped for a second consecutive week on Friday July 26 amid slow buying, while the global nickel sulfate price posted a third weekly decline on the falling London Metal Exchange nickel cash price

July 29, 2024

By: Sybil Pan

Lithium prices in China, CJK extend weakness amid ongoing weak fundamentals

China’s lithium prices continued to trend downward amid weak demand and futures weakness over the week to Thursday July 25

July 26, 2024

By: Zihao Li

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