Overall, the Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) accelerated declines from the previous month, with a 3.45% drop from October to November. Following a slight increase during September, nickel prices returned bearish. Prices fell 8.72% throughout October before they found a bottom at the close of the month, making them the worst-performing base metal. Crush your […]
Category: Stainless Steel
Nickel Prices Surge Past $18K: Is a Stainless Steel Rebound Finally on the Horizon?
Of late, nickel prices have been on the rise. More recently, nickel hit a new three-month high on the London Metal Exchange (LME), surging past US $18,000 per metric ton. The price of this material, which is crucial for making stainless steel, has been under pressure for months. Now, it seems to be showing strong […]
Stainless MMI: Stainless Mills Struggle With Oversupply
Overall, the Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) fell 0.75% from September to October. Nickel prices moved sideways with a slight upside bias throughout September. In total, prices rose 1.64% month over month, which offered support to the 304 stainless surcharge. Stainless Entered the Month Heavily Oversupplied The stainless market opened Q4 with little optimism. Reports […]
Stainless MMI: Steep Stainless Discounts as Nickel Price Rally Collapses
Overall, the Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) posted slight growth, with a 3.54% rise from August to September. Nickel prices rallied throughout August, halting months of steep declines. All in all, prices rose 3.18% during the month as they found a peak on August 30. However, the rebound proved short-lived. The price of nickel collapsed […]
Stainless MMI: Nickel Prices Unravel Gains as Stainless Market Remains “Soft”
Overall, the Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) continued to decline, with a 4.47% drop from July to August. Nickel prices continued to plunge throughout July, shedding an additional 4.43% over the course of the month. Although prices appeared to stabilize in early August, they continued to trend near their early 2024 range, having wiped out […]
Stainless MMI: Bearish Stainless Demand Leads to Steep Discounts
Overall, the Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) reversed to the downside, with a 10.88% drop from June to July. Nickel prices experienced heavy losses during June, securing the title of worst-performing base metal with an over 14% decline. Prices had fallen over 19% from their May 20 peak by early June as they remained in […]
Outokumpu Expects Sideways Stainless Market, Promotes the Necessity for Protectionism
Speaking at the Chicago chapter of the Association of Women in the Metals Industry’s (AWMI) most recent dinner, Outokumpu Business Area Americas CEO and President Tamara Weinert highlighted the many challenges facing domestic stainless producers. She also commented on the global stainless steel price, the company’s overall outlook, and its path toward a greener future. […]
Stainless MMI: Mills Post Q1 Results as Nickel Prices Stabilize
Nickel prices followed other base metals up throughout April, with a nearly 15% month-over-month rise. By late April, prices hit their highest level since September, although they subsequently began to retrace as upside momentum cooled. Overall, the Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) rebounded, with a 9.58% jump from April to May. Outokumpu, Acerinox Post Q1 […]
LME and CME Russian Metal Ban Prompting Speculation About Market Fragmentation
By now, anyone in the metals market will know that the U.S. and UK recently banned the consumption of Russian aluminum, copper, and nickel produced from April 13 onward. While metal already on the London Metal Exchange (LME) and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) are still available for consumption, no metal delivered after this date […]
Stainless MMI: Nickel Prices Retrace Amid Slow Stainless Market
Nickel prices continued to the upside during the first half of March, taking a momentary pause from their long-term downtrend. However, prices found a peak by March 13, reaching their highest level since October 2023. Following that, the rally collapsed, and prices returned to the downside. Overall, nickel prices fell 5.56% month over month. The […]
