This morning in metals news: the United States International Trade Commission asked for an additional $2.75 million in its budget to help it toward implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA); the World Gold Council released its H1 2020 report; and U.S. beverage makers are grappling with an aluminum can shortage.
Category: Ferrous Metals
Stainless MMI: LME nickel prices contradict market fundamentals
The Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) increased by 3% this month after holding flat for two consecutive months.
Raw Steels MMI: U.S. market still has a steep curve ahead
The Raw Steels Monthly Metals Index (MMI) increased 1.5% for this month’s MMI reading.
This Morning in Metals: U.S. steel capacity utilization rises to 57.5%
This morning in metals news: the U.S. steel sector’s capacity utilization rate ticked up this past week; a steel processing company plans to open a new facility in Kentucky on Nucor’s campus; and China’s demand for iron ore from Australia has persisted, despite trade tensions between the two countries.
Aluminum MMI: Aluminum price makes gains, index rises 6.7%
The Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) increased by nearly 6.7% for this month’s MMI reading.
This Morning in Metals: U.S. steel shipments down 32.9% in May
This morning in metals news: U.S. steel shipments fell 32.9% in May; a Chilean lab is using copper in the fight against COVID-19; and some stores are feeling the effect of an aluminum can shortage.
Construction MMI: May construction spending drops 2.1%
The Construction Monthly Metals Index (MMI) picked up 4.2% this month.
This Morning in Metals: U.S. steel capacity utilization rate jumps again to 56.6%
This morning in metals news, the U.S. steel sector again posted another incremental rise in its steel capacity utilization rate, Freeport-McMoRan adjusted its Q2 copper sales estimates and the Airbus–Boeing tariff saga continues.
Are we in for a repeat of longer LME aluminum load-out queues, rising physical delivery premiums?
A recent Reuters article doesn’t say so in as many words but certainly suggests conditions are fertile for warehouse operators to incentivize metal deliveries again and, in the process, queues could form at exit.
Automotive MMI: U.S. auto sales begin slow recovery but remain depressed
The Automotive Monthly Metals Index (MMI) picked up by 5.1% this month. U.S. auto sales U.S. auto sales continued to slump last month and over the second quarter overall, even as the U.S. auto sector restarted production in late May after an approximately two-month suspension. General Motors reported second-quarter deliveries of 492,489 vehicles, down 34% […]