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    • Seaborne iron ore prices are on the rise due to increased trading activity and stable market fundamentals, highlighting steady demand and opportunities for growth while emphasizing the importance of monitoring market trends to manage risks effectively.
      Insights
    • Fastmarkets has corrected its MB-ALU-0019 alumina index inferred, fob Indonesia, $/tonne, which was published incorrectly on Wednesday June 4.
      Insights
    • The recent doubling of Section 232 tariffs to 50%, announced by President Trump, has introduced significant uncertainty to the US steel market, with traders reporting disruptions to imports, paused domestic mill quotes and concerns over potential price increases amid modest demand. Industry participants are now assessing how the additional costs will be absorbed across the supply chain.
      Insights
    • After a month-long consultation, Fastmarkets has amended the specification of its weekly steel slab, import, cif Italy, price assessment. To better reflect the material traded in the market, Fastmarkets has reduced the range of specified widths to 1,500-2,500 mm from 1,000-2,500 mm. The publication day of the assessment has also been changed from Friday to […]
      Insights
    • After a month-long consultation period, Fastmarkets has amended the publication day of its weekly European steel domestic plate and import plate assessments from Wednesday to Thursday, to better align with related markets. The amended specifications are listed below (changes in italics): MB-STE-0034 Steel domestic plate 8-40mm, exw Northern Europe, €/tonneQuality: S235JR, width 2,500mm, length 12,000mm, thickness 8-40mm […]
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    • Carbon registry Verra announced on Friday May 23 a delay in the release of the final deforestation risk maps required under the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) methodology VM0048. The registry said that the delay is intended to ensure the data meets Verra’s standards for high quality and to enhance transparency throughout the data development process.
      Insights
    • Here are the key takeaways from market participants on US ferrous scrap metal prices, market confidence, inventory and more from our June survey.
      Insights
    • 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 […]
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    • South Africa’s newly approved Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy and the draft of the 2025 Mineral Resources Development Bill (MRDB) have drawn significant attention from global market participants, particularly manganese and chrome buyers in China.
      Insights
    • The announcement comes amid wider reports of general market uncertainty in the European biodiesel space, as producers struggle to operate profitably against a backdrop of consistently high feedstock prices. “The complexity of a multi-feedstock greenfield investment leading to comparatively high capital (CAPEX) and operating (OPEX) costs, combined with a market that demands competitive production economics, […]
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    Top stories across markets

    Spodumene production in Australia and Canada rose in the second quarter of 2025, with most producers maintaining profitability despite falling prices. However, several high-cost operations remain inactive amid ongoing market uncertainty.

    The global ferroalloys industry, a foundational component of steel production for decades, is shifting to a new state of balance driven by the accelerating green energy revolution, industry sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday July 23.

    Electra Battery Materials Corp announced on Thursday July 31 that it is starting metallurgical testing on cobalt feedstocks at its historic Cobalt Camp in Ontario and at its Iron Creek, Idaho cobalt and copper project to expand North American supply of critical minerals contained in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).

    The forecast for the new wheat crop in Australia improved as rain finally brought relief to most of the producing regions in the country, Fastmarkets learned.

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    Browse our special interest content hubs to get deeper insights into the biggest issues across commodity markets

    We recognize the importance of being clear about our price assessment and index process. Our independently audited pricing process aligns with core IOSCO principles. Find out how our price reporters and analysts assess and forecast prices in agriculture, forest products and metals

    Purple, Texture, Lighting

    The definitive podcast for the critical minerals and battery raw materials markets. From uncovering market secrets to predicting future trends using Fastmarkets forecasting data, we’ve got you covered.

    In Hotter Commodities, special correspondent Andrea Hotter cuts to the chase on the biggest stories impacting the natural resources sector, what it means for the markets, the key risks and opportunities.

    Fastmarkets combines the commodity intelligence of these familiar names:

    Metal Bulletin • American Metal Market • Scrap Price Bulletin • Industrial Minerals • RISI • FOEX • The Jacobsen • Agricensus • Palm Oil Analytics • Random Lengths • Hardwood Market Report
    • FastMarkets and more

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