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    • The publication of Fastmarkets’ assessments of Shanghai bonded aluminium, zinc and nickel stocks for April 30 were delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated. The data effective for April 30 was published on May 7 as a result. The following assessments were affected:Shanghai aluminium bonded stocksShanghai zinc bonded stocksShanghai nickel […]
      Insights
    • Soybean futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange fell for the second consecutive session on Wednesday April 30, pressured by selling in the soyoil market and plummeting crude prices.
      Insights
    • The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will be implemented in seven months’ time but the region’s steel industry was still not fully prepared for the gradual changes the system will involve, Fastmarkets heard on Thursday May 8 at the Made in Steel trade fair in Milan, Italy.
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    • After a consultation period, Fastmarkets has launched a soap stock acid oil price assessment to add value to the current European biofuel feedstocks assessment complex and contribute to overall market transparency in the industry. AG-SAO-0001 Soap stock acid oil CIF Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, $/tonneQuality: Free fatty acids (FFA) max. 80%, moisture, impurities and unsaponifiable matter (MIU) […]
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    • US futures moved into positive territory on Wednesday April 30, on bargain buying following double-digit declines observed on Tuesday April 29.
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    • The rationale for MB-LI-0012 spodumene min 6% Li2O, spot price, cif China, had erroneously stated that “Spodumene prices declined this session, amid continued weakness in lithium carbonate prices on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange (GFEX).” This has been corrected to “Spodumene prices declined this session, due to weakness in lithium markets and ongoing bearish sentiment.” The published price […]
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    • Following the consultation which concluded on Thursday May 8, the frequency of the price will change from weekly to monthly, with the first assessment on a monthly frequency on Friday May 30, to better reflect the evolving dynamics in China’s antimony market. The new specifications are as follows, with the amendment in italics: MB-SB-0003 Antimony MMTA standard grade II, ddp […]
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    • The price assessment tracks the weekly spot price of electrolytic manganese flake in the fob China market. The proposal was to change the publication frequency from weekly to monthly, following a review of market liquidity and internal data. After a consultation period, Fastmarkets has determined that current circumstances do not make the amendment to MB-MN-0007 Manganese 99.7% […]
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    • MB-STE-0926 Green steel, differential to steel reinforcing bar (rebar) domestic, delivered Northern Europe, €/tonne was initially incorrectly input within the range of €30-40 per tonne. The correct differential is €20-40 per tonne. MB-STE-0925 Green steel base price, reinforcing bar (rebar) domestic, delivered Northern Europe, inferred, €/tonne was incorrectly input at €685-720 per tonne. The correct inferred price is €675-720 […]
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    • Ford Motor Company will offset $1 billion of an expected $2.5 billion exposure from tariffs and remains "on track and within our original full-year guidance range of $7 billion-8.5 billion" in operating earnings for 2025, Jim Farley, president and chief executive officer, said during the automaker's first-quarter earnings call on Monday March 5.
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    Top stories across markets

    China’s push for greener ferro-alloy production has revealed a significant divide between its northern and southern regions due to contrasting access to clean energy, supply and demand dynamics and regulatory environments, according to market participants.

    Global aluminium producer Alcoa has already diverted 100,000 tonnes of Canadian metal away from the US market in response to uncertainty about import tariffs with trade measures continuing to upend traditional trade flows and pushing the company to rethink its global supply strategy, its chief executive officer said.

    In a move received with optimism from industry experts, the One Big Beautiful Bill allocates billions in federal funding to bolster the US critical minerals sector through multiple venues, signaling strong government support for domestic production and supply chain resilience. Market participants expect the demand effect from the introduction of timelines on 45X and repealing of 30D credits to be limited.

    Fastmarkets, a leading cross-commodity price reporting agency (PRA), has successfully completed its annual independent assurance review conducted by BDO, confirming alignment with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Oil Price Reporting Agencies as of June 30, 2025. The review evaluated Fastmarkets’ key price assessments and indices across metals and mining, forest products, […]

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