The Chinese domestic price for silico-manganese has drifted downward significantly in recent assessments because some alloy smelters reduced their offer prices to attract buying interest and generate cash amid the sluggish demand circumstances created by the outbreak of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus, market participants have told Fastmarkets.

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

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

The downtrend in global billet prices continued over the past week as buyers looked out for bargains amid poor demand for downstream long steel products.

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

Fastmarkets AMM reviews recent merger-and-acquisition deals for some heavy hitters in the steel industry. Each company's ongoing purchases - big and small - are intended to expand their global reach as well as develop products and services throughout 2019.

Middle Eastern countries boosted their crude steel output in 2017, with producers calling for more trade protection measures to support self-sufficiency in the sector.

Anahita Gilan Steel in northern Iran will commission its 320,000-tpy rolling mill within the next two months, according to the project authorities.

Some steel product prices in the United States have risen in response to the looming introduction of 25% tariffs on imports, while sentiment in steel markets outside the US has been dampened by fears of potential shifts in trade flows.

Fastmarkets' CIS steel prices on Monday April 29 will be rolled over because of the Orthodox Easter holiday on April 29-30 and the Labor Day holiday on May 1.