Metals Industry News

Aluminium premiums across the globe were mostly flat in the week ending Tuesday January 12, with market participants continuing to keep a close watch on the volatile London Metal Exchange spreads.

A summary of base metals premiums from across the globe for the week to Tuesday January 12.

Extreme tin shortages in the United States have catapulted the domestic premiums to their highest levels since Fastmarkets began these assessments, with the in-warehouse Baltimore and ddp Midwest US premiums jumping by 32.17% and 44% respectively in the past two weeks.

The three-month nickel contract was the biggest gainer on Tuesday January 12 with a 3% rise in a broad-based reversal of fortunes for base metals on the London Metals Exchange, due to expectations of further Covid-19 stimulus in the United States.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the closure of mining operations on Tumbagaan Island in Languyan, in the province of Tawi-Tawi, to rehabilitate the area, the Philippine News Agency reported on Tuesday January 12.

The London Metal Exchange three-month nickel price increased by over 3% during morning trading on Tuesday January 12, with the rest of the base metals' prices also rising in an episode of dip-buying following the price decline across the complex on Monday.

After further weakness in the base metals on Monday January 11, that saw the complex close down by an average of 1.5%, prices were up across the board on the London Metal Exchange this morning but those on the Shanghai Futures Exchange base metals prices were down across the board while they followed yesterday’s performance on the LME.

China Nonferrous Metal Mining Co (CNMC), the parent company of Zambia-based blister copper producer Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS), has agreed to supply the intermediate copper product to China’s Jiangxi Copper at $145 per tonne cif China for 2021, Fastmarkets learned on Tuesday January 12.

Zambia-based blister copper producer Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS) has agreed to supply the intermediate copper product to China’s Jiangxi Copper at $145 per tonne cif China for 2021, Fastmarkets learned on Tuesday January 12.

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday January 11 that are worth another look.

Canada Nickel Co has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Glencore Canada to examine the potential treatment and processing of future nickel and cobalt production from Glencore’s Kidd concentrator and metallurgical site in Timmins, Ontario.

Copper and nickel’s forward prices shed more than 3% on Monday January 11, in a second day of declines in the base metals complex on the London Metal Exchange, following a sharp increase in the United States dollar index and concerns over a resurgence of Covid-19 cases in China.

Glencore has concluded discussions with the Zambian government about the sale of a majority stake in the Mopani copper mine, state media reported on Friday January 8.

Waiting times for aluminium at Istim warehouses in Port Klang, Malaysia, fell to just 20 days at the end of December, according to the London Metal Exchange’s latest queue report.

The London Metal Exchange’s average daily volume (ADV) of trades declined across all base metals in December 2020 despite price rallies, according to latest LME data.

The Chinese nickel sulfate market marked a strong start to 2021, with the price climbing above its previous 2020 high amid good demand and limited supply, sources told Fastmarkets.

Nickel’s forward price was the most affected by a rising United States dollar index in morning trading on the London Metal Exchange on Monday January 11, with the rest of the base metals complex also registering price falls following a bullish first week of 2021.

Base metals prices were for the most part weaker during morning trading on Monday January 11, while the dollar was firmer in line with strong US treasury yields.

China’s nickel pig iron (NPI) price rose in the week to Friday January 8, supported by gains in the stainless steel market, sources told Fastmarkets.

London-based private-equity manager Appian Capital Advisory has raised $775 million for a second fund focused on natural resources, targeting investment metals related to electric vehicles and renewable power.