The Shanghai Futures Exchange will see first delivery of its hot rolled coil futures contract on July 15, Steel First has learned.

Steel billet prices in most global markets were largely unchanged or edged downward during the week from Monday July 30 to Friday August 3, due to limited buying interest and uncertainty about the impending United States sanctions on Iran.

Global steel billet prices continued their upward march last week, despite the general slowdown in buying activity, Metal Bulletin has learnt.

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Thursday September 20.

Gerdau has entered into a deal with Kinross Brasil Mineração to sell its two hydroelectric plants in Brazil’s mid-western Goiás state for 835 million Reais ($255 million), as a further step in its strategy to focus on profitable steel assets, it said late on Wednesday February 14.

Spot demand for imported ferrous scrap in key Asian market Vietnam slowed in the week to Friday June 19 after buyers noted a dip in prices from the middle of the week.

The Brazilian long steel market continued to show only weak trading activity for both domestic and foreign sales during September.

Domestic steel prices in China are picking up strength after news of summer production cuts in the country’s steelmaking hub of Tangshan broke.

Steel billet prices fell in China and other markets last week, and buyers are refraining from closing deals as they wait for a definitive direction.

Metal Bulletin proposes to re-align its Brazilian domestic steel prices to reflect market practices, making changes to the calculation of its monthly assessments.