Pandemic-related lockdowns constrained the global scrap market earlier this year. Consequently, operations were restricted or closed down. But even as containments have eased, the market has been slow to come back — resulting in rising prices for steel and base metal scrap over the summer. Stop obsessing about the actual forecasted steel price. It’s more […]
Category: Metal Prices
Despite pandemic’s impact on production, Indian steel exports rise
India’s steel production contracted since the arrival of COVID-19. However, exports surprisingly notched a new high in the April-July 2020 period. Steels exports more than doubled in these months to hit their highest level in six years, reported news agency Reuters. Are you prepared for your annual steel contract negotiations? Be sure to check out […]
This Morning in Metals: Trump takes aim at steel imports from Mexico, Brazil
This morning in metals news: President Donald Trump this Monday took aim at steel imports from Mexico and Brazil; the American Iron and Steel Institute responded to the development; and copper price surged to a two-year high. 5 Mistakes Buyers Can Make When Sourcing Steel. Trump targets steel from Brazil, Mexico The Trump administration took […]
U.S. steel sector capacity utilization rate dips to 61.7% last week
After a long stretch of weekly increases, the U.S. steel sector’s capacity utilization rate fell last week. According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), U.S. steel mills produced at a capacity utilization rate of 61.7% for the week ending Aug. 29. The rate marked a decline from the 63.0% recorded for the week […]
This Morning in Metals: China picks up steel buying from India
This morning in metals news: China’s steel purchases from neighbor India have jumped this year; Japan’s Nippon Steel is wary of China’s steel dominance; and the U.S. trade deficit in goods increased in July. You want more MetalMiner on your terms. Choose how often you hear from us – weekly, monthly, or quarterly – by […]
Week in Review: China’s stainless dominance; copper mine production falls; aluminum output rises
It’s hard to believe we are already approaching the end of August — but here we are. In the short term, this week saw coverage of a variety of issues. Stuart Burns tackled Chinese stainless steel consolidation earlier this week. Furthermore, he delved into a reversal of longer-term trends in flows of steel oversupply. We’re […]
Global aluminum output rises to 5.45M tons in July
Several metals prices have been on the rise this year, powered in part by China’s demand recovery (among other factors, including a weakening dollar). Copper, in particular, has been a fast riser this year. Aluminum, however, has not been as strong. Over the last month, the LME three-month aluminum price has gained 4.62%, according to […]
ICSG: Copper mine production down 2.2% through first five months of 2020
After coming in at comparable levels to last year through the first four months of this year, global mine production fell in May. The International Copper Study Group (ICSG) reported global copper mine production had dropped by 2.2% through the first five months of the year compared to the equivalent period in 2019. Concentrate production […]
U.S. steel imports surge in July, powered by surge from blooms, billets and slabs
U.S. steel imports picked up in July, the U.S. Census Bureau reported in its monthly steel import data release today. U.S. imports of steel reached an estimated 2.4 million metric tons in July, nearly doubling the 1.3 million metric tons imported the previous month. Are you prepared for your annual steel contract negotiations? Be sure […]
This Morning in Metals: Nevada Copper restarts production at Pumpkin Hollow
This morning in metals news: Nevada Copper announced it had restarted production at its underground Pumpkin Hollow mine; zinc prices have received a boost from surging Chinese steel demand; and Norsk Hydro last week announced the suspension of operation of the Paragominas-to-Alunorte bauxite pipeline. We’re offering timely emails with exclusive analyst commentary and some best […]