That the aluminum market is in a deficit is a widely accepted fact — but it still remains hard to see in practice. Usually when markets are in deficit, prices rise. Primary aluminum as quoted by the LME, however, has been at best sideways for the last year or more. Prices have gradually softened within […]
Tag: L1
Aluminum’s Short-Term Fundamentals are Less Than Promising
The short-term fundamentals for aluminum do not look promising, if Alcoa’s latest report is to be believed. Need buying strategies for steel? Request your two-month free trial of MetalMiner’s Outlook The major primary producer is struggling to create positive net cash flow, a measure of the firm’s ability to pay down its substantial debt, reporting a […]
Trump Directs Dept. of Defense to Search for Alternative Sources of Rare Earth Magnets
Rare earths are coveted around the world for their application in a wide variety of high-tech uses, from consumer electronics to military applications. Need buying strategies for steel? Request your two-month free trial of MetalMiner’s Outlook However, a rare earths market dominated for years by China has presented a challenge to the U.S. Toward that […]
U.S. Steel Sector Hits Capacity Utilization Rate of 81.1%
For the year as of July 20, the U.S. steel sector notched a capacity utilization rate of 81.1%, up from 77.0% for the same period in 2018, according to the U.S. steel production report released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Need buying strategies for steel? Request your two-month free trial of MetalMiner’s […]
Rising Quotas, Declining Growth Pose Challenges for E.U. Steel Sector
Recently, the European Steel Association (EUROFER) argued that a series of factors, including rising imports and slowing economic growth, are posing an existential threat to the E.U.’s steel industry. Need buying strategies for steel? Request your two-month free trial of MetalMiner’s Outlook Earlier this year, the E.U. imposed steel safeguards in an attempt to protect […]
June U.S. Housing Starts Down 0.9% from Previous Month
June housing starts in the U.S. fell 0.9% compared with May levels, according to the monthly housing start report by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Need buying strategies for steel? Request your two-month free trial of MetalMiner’s Outlook June housing starts reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate […]
Indonesia’s Export Ban Update Drives Nickel Price Rise
After drifting off from a spring high, the nickel price has flatlined in the second quarter (along with much of the rest of the metals complex). However, the metal has put in a surprisingly strong performance in just the last week due to Indonesia’s announced export ban spooking market concerns about supply, according to the Financial Times. […]
Oyu Tolgoi Delays Challenge Rio’s Balance Sheet
It is just as well Rio Tinto is riding high on a strong iron ore price, as its copper business in Mongolia has hit a cost blowout, according to the Financial Times. Difficult ground conditions are being cited as the primary reason Rio is having to completely rethink the design and development of its underground mine […]
Trump Executive Order Aims to Increase Domestic Steel Content in Federal Procurement
The U.S. steel industry applauded the president’s latest executive order, which targets the augmentation of the percentage of domestic steel content — among other goods — in federal procurements. Need buying strategies for steel? Request your two-month free trial of MetalMiner’s Outlook On Monday, July 15, the president signed a proclamation hailing this “Made in […]
The July MMI Report: Seven of 10 MMIs Post Upward Movement
The July 2019 Monthly Metals Index (MMI) report is in the books. Need buying strategies for steel? Request your two-month free trial of MetalMiner’s Outlook After a couple of down months, the MMIs showed upward movement this time around. Seven of 10 MMIs increased for the July reading. The Raw Steels MMI was the lone subindex to […]
