Metal prices demonstrated increasingly-bearish short-term movement over the past couple of weeks. HRC, for instance, continues to trend downward while nickel faces extensive bearish pressure. But while prices may continue to decline in the short-term, will the long-term trend continue? Nickel in a Bearish Market Nickel prices fell more than 20% in the first three […]
Tag: China
Is India the New China for Global Steel Production?
COVID-19, poor demand, and several other factors caused a drop in steel production worldwide the past few years. This included China, which is not only the biggest steel producer, but one with a massive impact on steel prices. Indeed, according to a report by the World Steel Association, global crude steel production, including semi-finished products, […]
Rare Earths MMI: The Rare Earths Downward Spiral Finally Flattens
After a sharp nosedive that lasted two months, the Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) finally flattened out between May 1 and June 1. Ultimately, rare earth prices traded sideways and only moved down 1.02%. Market fears rose after news that China is experiencing another wave of COVID-19, which could impact the availability of rare […]
Is China’s Recovery Key to an Industrial Metal Rebound?
Some argue yes, and others argue no. Still, one fact remains certain: the West relies heavily on China when sourcing multiple metals. This includes everything from steel and copper to rare earths and lithium. Therefore, China’s slow recovery from its zero-COVID policies continues to take a massive toll on the global industrial metal trade, circulation, […]
Sliding Iron Ore Prices Show China’s Recovery is Still Dragging
The iron ore slump shows that the Chinese economy continues to struggle. Moreover, if things on the steel front do not improve quickly, demand will be low for the rest of the year. Indeed, the decline in iron ore prices, which recently hit a five-month low, has many analysts worried about the robustness of China’s […]
Chinese Exports into Australia Suddenly Shoot Up
March proved a good month for Australia and China. New data shows Australia’s exports to China touched a new high in that month. Though the export surge affected most commodities, the most prominent were coal and iron ore. Political and economic observers studying the relationship between the two nations interpret this as new signs of […]
Rare Earths MMI: Prices Plummet as Rare Earth Demand Drops
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) suffered yet another significant drop month-over-month. Overall, the index fell 15.81%. These massive drops in prices are the result of several factors. One of the the biggest culprits is rising supply and falling demand. Prices for rare earth metals have also decreased due to new mining initiatives cropping […]
What’s Behind Declining Steel Prices in Northern Europe?
Hot rolled coil steel prices in northern Europe began declining over the past month. Sources told MetalMiner on April 25 that the downtrend was largely due to lower demand and aggressive import offers. One trader mentioned that North European mills are now offering €820 ($900) per metric ton EXW for August rolling and September delivery. […]
China’s Yunnan Province Cuts Aluminum Production
A new question mark hangs over the fate of Chinese aluminum production for the rest of 2023. In March, China’s primary aluminum output increased by 3% compared to the same period in the previous year. However, the increase occurred at a slower pace than in previous months. While this did bring some cheer, the future […]
Renewed Steel Demand in China Causing Iron Ore Production to Rise
For the 1st quarter of this year, China’s iron ore imports hit a Q1 record. Altogether, prices climbed nearly 10% from January to March, reaching 29.3 million tons (MT). Indeed, March alone saw imports grow 1.8% to 100.23 MT. Helping these numbers were expectations of stronger steel demand as the Chinese economy continues to emerge […]
