The growth of demand has been the key factor influencing the positive trend in the global steel market in recent years, Fastmarkets research manager Alistair Ramsay said earlier this month at the 22nd Middle East Iron and Steel Conference in Dubai.

The London Metal Exchange will introduce three regional hot-rolled coil contracts at the start of 2019, coinciding with a change in attitude towards risk management tools for the ferrous sector, according to the exchange’s business development manager.

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.

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Tuesday June 12.

The knock-on effect of Section 232 tariffs imposed by the United States in March this year on imports of steel and aluminium has been swift and dramatic.

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 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.

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.

Sentiment in the CIS billet export market improved on Thursday June 7 after the resumption in scrap and rebar trading between Turkey and the United States earlier in the week.

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.