This Morning in Metals: Consumer Price Index up 0.9% in June

This morning in metals news: the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers increased by 0.9% in June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today; meanwhile, U.S. crude oil production efficiency increased in the Bakken region in 2020; and, lastly, North American Stainless experienced a production slowdown late last week.
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Consumer Price Index up 0.9%

US crude oil production efficiency up in Bakken

Crude oil production efficiency increased in the Bakken region in 2020, the Energy Information Administration reported.
However, the Bakken region proved to be the only US region with a rise in production efficiency last year.
“In 2020, U.S. initial crude oil production per well, or well production efficiency, increased significantly in the Bakken region, according to our Drilling Productivity Report (DPR), which we update monthly,” the EIA reported. “Productivity in other drilling regions remained largely steady or decreased slightly, DPR data shows.”

NAS delays

Last week, Bloomberg reported production challenges at North American Stainless’ (NAS) facility in Ghent, Kentucky, reporting a shortage of industrial gases that impacted operations and caused it to declare force majeure.
NAS accounts for approximately 40% of the U.S. stainless steel market.
However, a source told MetalMiner that NAS sent letters to customers rescinding the force majeure and had only opted to reduce, rather than halt, production. The slowdown will result in delays of about two weeks, MetalMiner has learned, and will largely impact September order books.
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