Metal Bulletin reviews the major stories affecting the steel market over the past week.

Chinese steel prices have been rangebound in June despite plunging inventory levels, with trade war fears and economic jitters keeping market participants on the sidelines for most of the month.

Japanese steel producers which use electric-arc furnaces (EAFs) are being forced into raising their purchasing prices for ferrous scrap feedstock despite there being no upward movement in their steel sales prices, sources in Japan have told Fastmarkets.

Finished long steel prices in Europe have continued to go up through August, supported by reduced supplies during the summer holidays, as well as by costlier raw materials.

Finished long steel prices have been on the rise in Europe through July and are expected to stay at high levels in August because of increased production costs.

China’s Laigang Yongfeng will increase its capacity by 1.87 million tpy with the addition of two continuous casters.

The European long steel market is expected to weaken next month amid slack demand and downward pressure from scrap prices.

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Monday January 13 that are worth another look.

India’s JSW has launched a bid to purchase steelmaker Monnet Ispat Steel, representatives of both companies confirmed to Metal Bulletin on Monday January 29.

The seaborne iron ore market maintained its momentum in March, even with the Covid-19 pandemic causing turmoil for the global economic outlook and leading to steel production cuts and weakening demand outside of China.