Changes in tax rebates for chromium-containing alloyed steel exports would be more important than the recently-announced cuts in export duties for boron-containing steel, traders in Asia told Metal Bulletin this week.

Steel First sister company AMM has adjusted the publishing schedule for its merchant bar, reinforcing bar, special bar quality and wire rod price assessments with effect from Friday May 1.

With port stocks high and prices tumbling, the iron ore market could be in for a turbulent time as China's economy slows down ahead of the winter.

Man of Steel is the nom de plume of an experienced steel trader, who will be writing a column for Metal Bulletin on a regular basis. Do you agree with him? Email editorial@metalbulletin.com Trading company ceos around the world are worried as they consider their activities and the outlook as they prepare their second-quarter (or second-half) results.

A plunge in silico-manganese futures prices on the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange (ZCE) at the start of this week was driven by weakness in China’s steel market, market participants told Fastmarkets.

The Indian government is to impose a 20% export duty on graphite electrodes from April 1, according to the International Rebar Producers & Exporters Association (Irepas).

Global scrap markets were looking for a clear direction, with international prices inching upward, while demand was moderate during the working week from Monday June 19 to Friday June 23.

The global long steel market has reached its bottom level, with activity expected to pick up in the near term, according to the rebar sector’s global organisation.

The US ferrous scrap market idled into neutral on news that Section 232 tariffs will take effect in the coming week, with buyers holding internal discussions and dealers afraid to sell below fair market price - but roared back to life by end of Friday March 2.

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