Norsk Hydro has agreed to take over Rio Tinto Alcan’s 50% share of the Sør-Norge Aluminium (Søral) smelter in Norway, giving Hydro full ownership of the facility, it said on Thursday July 3.

China has become the savior of the global steel market, with its big appetite and high domestic prices supporting the international ferrous supply chain amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Good morning from Metal Bulletin’s offices in Asia as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Thursday September 6.

Good morning from Metal Bulletin’s offices in Asia as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Thursday August 30.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly consolidating in morning trading on Wednesday October 18, after copper and zinc prices plummeted at yesterday’s 5pm close.

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Thursday September 6.

The proposed Section 232 investigation remedies by the United States Commerce Department are becoming apparent in the global market, with the common theme a reorganization of the world’s supply chains to remove the US from the trade flow.

China's weakening economy and huge new volumes of supply entering the market sent seaborne iron ore prices to their lowest levels in five years at the end of 2014.

The new London Metal Exchange alumina cash-settled contract, which was launched on Monday March 11, will provide the market with a new hedging tool after a year of dramatic price movements.

Iron ore prices fell to their lowest level in nearly two years last week, with Metal Bulletin’s 62% Fe index dropping to just above $98 per tonne cfr China before showing a modest rebound.