As Brazil implemented protective measures against Chinese flat steel — enforcing anti-dumping duties on cold-rolled coil, coated steel, and pre-painted steel sequentially since early 2026 — China's monthly exports of finished steel to the country declined to their lowest levels since 2024, significantly reducing a market that previously consumed over 400,000 tonnes per month.

Fastmarkets is also proposing to clarify the names of the four containerboard assessments: As part of the process of standardizing price nomenclature for forest products, their names will be as follows: The prices are part of the Fastmarkets Paper Packaging price package. The consultation period for the proposed change to publication frequency and the standardized […]

South China, which includes the provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian, accounts for 25 million tonnes of containerboard capacity annually, about a quarter of China’s total, according to Fastmarkets’ database. The region also holds around one-third of the nation’s corrugated converting capacity and remains a key manufacturing and trading hub with significant demand for corrugated […]

Fastmarkets consulted the market on the proposed change between April 3 and May 11, 2026. Some feedback was received regarding the publication times of nickel pig iron and laterite ore prices. Fastmarkets will adjust the initially proposed publication times accordingly and proceed with the changes. This decision was first proposed in a methodology note published […]

Fastmarkets consulted the market on the proposed change between April 2 and May 11, 2026. No feedback was received, and Fastmarkets will therefore proceed with the change. This decision was first proposed in a methodology note published on April 2, which you can view here. This notice of the decision was delayed past its original May […]

Fastmarkets launches payables indicators for nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) cathode black powder, CIF China, on Wednesday May 13. This launch comes following significant demand from Fastmarkets subscribers for increased transparency around prices for higher-grade battery recycling raw materials, given rising spot trading volumes. These new prices are the first of their kind, believed to be […]

The publication of Fastmarkets’ MB-GER-0006 Germanium dioxide, in-whs China assessment for May 8, 2026, was delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated. The price was published with a delay on Monday May 11. The following price was affected: MB-GER-0006 Germanium dioxide, in-whs China, yuan/kg This price is part of the Fastmarkets […]

Fastmarkets has corrected its price assessment for MB-ZIR-0014 zircon, premium grade, 66.5% ZrO2 min, bulk, cif China, published on Thursday May 7. The assessment was incorrectly published at $1,600-1,700 per tonne due to reporter error. The correct assessment should have been $1,600-1,670 per tonne. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated to reflect this change. This price […]

China’s emergence over the past two decades has reshaped global trade. What began as rapid export-led expansion in the early 2000s has evolved into a far more strategic model: one centered on control of intermediate goods, deep integration into global supply chains, and the creation of structural dependencies across industries and regions, according to Mexico’s former ambassador to China, Jorge Guajardo.

The US has stepped up calls for its allies to accept higher costs for sourcing critical minerals outside China, arguing that supply chain security must take precedence over price efficiency – a stance that is reshaping expectations across metals markets but has yet to translate into durable pricing support.