Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are split into two camps this morning, Monday December 4. Gains are being seen in nickel (1.1%), tin (0.5%) and copper, which is up by 0.6% at $6,857 per tonne, while the rest are in negative territory: zinc (-0.8%), aluminium (-0.4%) and lead (-0.2%).

Chinese steelmakers are rushing to export their products due to stagnant domestic demand caused by downstream industries struggling to return to work amid the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in China.

The downtrend in the global billet market continued over the past week due to weak demand, except in China, in line with the weakening Turkish scrap import market.

Physical iron ore prices improved on Tuesday March 12 following advances in China’s futures and steel markets, as well as further uncertainty over Vale’s supplies from Brazil.

Base metals prices are down across the board by an average of 0.4% on the London Metal Exchange this morning, Thursday September 28. Volume has been average with 6,139 lots traded as of 06:44 BST.

Vanadium prices will find a much higher base than their 2015 lows when they inevitably fall, due to a structural shift in the global vanadium market, according to Amy Bennett, principal consultant at Fastmarkets MB.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are mixed this morning, Friday October 13, with zinc and lead prices weaker by 0.3% and 1%, respectively; while aluminium and nickel prices are up by 0.2%, tin prices are firmer by 0.3% and copper prices are little changed at $6,875 per tonne.

Editor Vera Blei looks at the main news covered by Steel First over the past week.

Metal Bulletin looks at six key things, discussed in the Philippines last month at SEAISI's 2017 Asean Iron and Steel Sustainability Forum in Manila, that will impact the Asian steel sector over the next five years.

Global scrap prices weakened in most markets except Taiwan during the working week from Monday July 9 to Friday July 13, amid sluggish demand in the major regions.