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Thursday, April 27
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at
$4.18/lb. Indicators
at 6:30 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Wednesday and start today
just over the 379,000 tonne level. Nickel continues to slide, with support
now declining to $4.09/lb. You may dislike her, but you have to give Regina
Lopez credit. After a confirmation hearing earlier this year went south,
Lopez toned down her rhetoric to the media and stopped taking draconian actions.
With a second round of confirmation hearings scheduled for next week, she
could have kept quiet for at least a few more weeks and took some of the
ammo away from her detractors. But last week she attacked another Minister
in holding up her earlier actions from being enforced and today, announced
that all open pit mining would be banned in her country. And the trading
price of nickel? At present it doesn't appear they care. We hope to see you
again next week. Have a safe weekend.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.40/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
(The Straits Times) The S&P Global Platts China Steel Sentiment Index
slid to 45.1 this month from 49.19 in March. The gauge is based on a survey
of about 75 to 90 China-based market participants including traders and steel
mills.
(Xinhua) China’s crude steel output grew 4.6 percent year-on-year to
201.1 million metric tons in the first quarter of 2017, compared with a slight
drop for the same period of last year, an industry association said Wednesday.
Dollar Pares Decline After Nafta Anxiety Defused: Markets Wrap -
more
China
demand concern push nickel lower - Nickel prices have hit 10-month lows as
worries about demand from top consumer China were reinforced by its trade
data, which showed falling imports of the metal used to make stainless steel.
-
more
Philippines bans open-pit mining as minister toughens crackdown -
Philippine Environment Secretary Regina Lopez said on Thursday she will ban
open-pit mining in the country, toughening a months-long crackdown on the
sector she blames for extensive environmental damage. -
more
Nickel under renewed pressure, scrap values fall - Global: Stainless
steel scrap prices have dropped back from the levels published in Recycling
International’s mid-March report, with the 304 quality sliding from
US$ 1290-1340 per tonne to US$ 1180-1230 and 316 material sliding from US$
1630-1680 to US$ 1530-1580. -
more
Western Areas set to sign offtake contracts with battery makers - Western
Areas is primed to sign its first offtake contracts directly with battery
makers as the WA nickel producer looks to lift revenue in volatile commodity
markets. -
more
South32 amends coal and metals output expectation - In addition to
revising its full-year output guidance for the Cannington multi-metals mine,
in Queensland, diversified spin-off South32 has also revised its full year
production guidance for its South African energy coal operations. -
more
Nickel
View Dominates Independence Group - Nickel production is increasingly dominating
the outlook for Independence Group as development enters the final stages
at Nova and production winds down at Long. -
more
Ring
of Fire junior taps China for development cash - KWG Resources is jetting
off to China in May to meet with its rail development partners and scrounge
for project financing. -
more
Ambatovy gets Cybermine simulators - Sherritt International’s
Ambatovy operation in Madagascar has commissioned ThoroughTec Cybermine operator
training simulators for its heavy equipment, which is the first Cybermine
order in the country -
more
Andrew
'Twiggy' Forrest's stake in Poseidon diluted by cash strategies - Billionaire
Andrew Forrest's stake in Poseidon Nickel has been sliced in half by the
dilutive impact of the embattled junior company's strategies to conserve
cash. -
more
Nickel
Market Basics: Supply and Demand Dynamics - Investors interested in the nickel
market need to have a solid understanding of supply and demand dynamics.
-
more
Mining
Minnesota study misfires on tourism - A new study produced by Mining Minnesota
highlights the major impact of taconite mining on the region’s economy,
and contrasts that to what it claims is a much-smaller impact from the tourism
sector. The study, putting it mildly, has problems. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Wednesday, April 26
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at
$4.23/lb. Indicators at
6:10 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading
unchanged. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Tuesday and now total
just over the 379,300 tonne level. Nickel gained slightly yesterday but
struggling again today. Considering world markets have bounced since the
French election and news on the Trump tax cut, nickel's struggles should
be concerning to miners and investors. Stainless steel producers, on the
other hand, are looking at lower costs, although some have apparently figured
out a way to keep profits manageable. Fuel surcharge increase? It's another
slow Wednesday news day. Next week could be a little more interesting with
the Lopez confirmation hearings rescheduled to May 3rd in the Philippines.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.42/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
ENSO neutral, but tropical Pacific waters continue to warm -
more
Risk Rally Falters as Focus Moves to U.S. Tax Plan: Markets Wrap -
more
Press
Release - For the month of May 2017, North American Stainless will increase
the fuel surcharge to 20% for stainless flat and long products. -
more
Western Areas hopes for stellar year - Nickel miner Western Areas is
tracking at the upper end of its full-year guidance following a strong March
quarter, with the miner also reporting its lowest unit cash costs since June
2015. -
more
Munali
Nickel mine to re-open - The Munali Nickel Mine in Mazabuka, Southern province,
is due to reopen this year. -
more
Antofagsta
Reports Production Decline While Costs Creep Up - (excerpt) Molybdenum production
performed better, up 29% year-on-year at 2,200 tonnes, also up 10% from the
last quarter of 2016. -
more
US
Preliminary Steel Imports Surged 25% in March - Year-to-date total and finished
steel imports are 8,932,566 and 6,927,093 net tons (NT), up 18.7% and 7.8%
respectively, vs. the same period in 2016. -
more
Clive
Mensink’s claims on overseas trip contradict meeting plans - Clive Mensink
was setting up a business meeting in Brisbane for the same week he flew out
on a marathon overseas holiday which he now claims was a longstanding
arrangement. -
more
Two
Latinos Win Prestigious Prize as ‘Grassroots Environmental Heroes’
- Two Latinos, one from East Los Angeles, California and one from Guatemala
are the recipients of a prestigious prize honoring "grassroots environmental
heroes." -
more
The
Surprising Role of Stainless Steel Behind Milwaukee’s Brewery Boom -
These two local businesses are playing a big part in, and benefiting from,
Milwaukee’s return to the moniker of Brew City. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Tuesday, April 25
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at
$4.20/lb. Indicators
at 6:20 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose yesterday and start today's
trading just under under the 380,200 tonne level. Nickel is trading at pricing
levels last seen in June of last year and show no signs of rebounding yet.
Moving averages and technical indicators monthly show negative. Technical
support has now fallen to $4.09/lb. With this in mind, stainless steel producer
surcharges for May only fell back to where they were a few months ago.
(our
surcharge page). Unless we see a large increase in nickel prices early
next month, we should see surcharges fall even more for June. The World Steel
Association is reporting steel production worldwide was up 4.6% YOY in March.
Russia's Norilsk told Metal Bulletin they are forecasting a worldwide production
deficit of 100,000 tonnes this year.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.43/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
London Metal Exchange to delay launch of precious metal contracts -
more
Twitter - China March refined nickel imports -66.8% y/y at 14,371 tonnes
Eurometal: “Consumption mood in Europe is rather positive” -
pdf here
China iron ore, steel resume decline as slack demand weighs -
more
Glencore updates its nickel production output to 20.6K tons in New Caledonia
for 2017 (+30% vs 2016)
(MB) Norilsk Nickel, one of the world’s largest nickel producers, expects
the market deficit to widen to 100,000 tonnes by the end of 2017, its head
of market research told delegates at the International Nickel Conference
in Lisbon.
Return of Risk Spurs Stocks as Europe Bonds Falter: Markets Wrap -
more
March 2017 crude steel production - World crude steel production for
the 67 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was
145.0 million tonnes (Mt) in March 2017, a 4.6% increase compared to March
2016. -
more
European
stainless steel surcharges hit four-month lows in May - Monthly alloy surcharges
on austenitic grades of stainless steel flat-rolled products in Europe for
May are set to fall to their lowest levels since January as both nickel and
ferrochrome prices have weakened, first mill announcements indicated. -
more
Colombia to clarify mining laws as ruling, vote worry investors -
Colombia's government will seek congressional approval to harmonize national
and local mining laws, the mines and energy minister said on Monday, as legal
wrangling over environmental regulations and community opposition threaten
investment. -
more
PPMAI
writes to steel ministry for import exemption - Capital goods industry has
written to ministry of steel to immediately issue exemption notice for easy
imports of steel used in high end industry application. -
more
Courtesy
AISI - In the week ending on April 22, 2017, domestic raw steel production
was 1,715,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 73.6 percent.
Production was 1,698,000 net tons in the week ending April 22, 2016 while
the capability utilization then was 72.6 percent. The current week production
represents a 1.0 percent increase from the same period in the previous year.
Production for the week ending April 22, 2017 is down 1.4 percent from the
previous week ending April 15, 2017 when production was 1,740,000 net tons
and the rate of capability utilization was 74.6 percent. -
more
Brexit:
Invalidation of existing trade remedy measures in the EU - With the UK parliament
passing the Brexit Bill on 14th of March 2017 paving the way for the government
to trigger Article 50 of the EU Treaty (which allows the UK to begin the
process to exit from the European Union), Brexit may now only be a matter
of time. -
more
Your
land, not mine - Just before the Redwood Highway leaves Oregon, high in the
Siskiyou Range, you drive past what might be the strangest creek in the state:
Rough and Ready Creek. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Monday, April 24
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at
$4.24/lb
. Indicators
at 6:30 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.02/lb
lower. Stockpiles
nickel soared on Thursday and retreated slightly on Friday and start the
week just shy of the 380,500 tonne level. We started the year at 372,066
tonnes, and gained over 10,000 tonnes last week alone. Lot of news. Philippine
President Duterte has apparently give the ok to Environmental minister Lopez
to work with communist rebels in rehabilitating mining areas. The text phrase
"WTF" comes to mind. Chinese steel prices are in a slump and President Trump
wants an investigation into possible steel dumping into the US. This announcement
comes a week after the Chinese President was in town and pressure was applied
to help fix the North Korea problem. It remains to be seen if this is a move
to investigate steel imports - or just more pressure being applied. The
AIIS isn't overly optimistic. Russian media is claiming their scientists
have invented a cheaper way to extract minerals from rock, and a Guatemalan
anti-mining activist wins an award. World is breathing a sigh of relief that
the far right candidate in France did not win the top spot in their weekend
election, although she did advance to the final run off.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.45/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
(Reuters 4/21) The discount of LME cash nickel to the three-month contract
shrank to $48 a tonne from $67.50 late last month, the largest since January
2015. A smaller discount indicates tighter supply.
(LSE) Nickel production dropped 12% year-on-year. Full-year guidance was
reiterated for all commodities, apart from nickel. Anglo American said it
has revised its annual target to 43,000 to 45,000 tonnes of nickel, compared
to the previous goal of around 45,000 tonnes.
AIIS Expresses ‘Concern’ about Steel Imports Investigation -
more
AK Steel CEO Roger Newport Named AIST Steelmaker of the Year -
more
Risk Back On as French Vote Ripples Across Markets: Markets Wrap -
more
Philippine minister wants to work with Maoist rebels in mine areas
- The Philippine environment minister said she has been given the green light
by President Rodrigo Duterte to work with communist rebel fighters to help
rehabilitate and develop the country's mining areas. -
more
OceanaGold fights against Philippine mine suspension -
more
Nickel
and Tin markets record small deficits, Zinc ends in surplus during Jan-Feb
'17 - The latest Metals Balances Report released by the World Bureau of Metal
Statistics (WBMS) indicates that Nickel market has ended in a modest deficit
during Jan-Feb ’17. -
more
Nickel
Market Beware: Batteries can no Longer be Ignored - In recent months, news
stories on nickel have been dominated by concerns over supply of nickel ores
and concentrates from the Philippines and Indonesia. -
more
Russian
Scientists Come Up With Supercheap Way to Produce Valuable Metals - Russian
chemists have created a new method for extracting metals like copper, nickel
and molybdenum, according to the press service of the National University
of Science and Technology MISIS. -
more
Vale's
nickel in matte output up 2% yoy in first quarter - Nickel in matte production
at mining company PT Vale Indonesia was 2 percent higher in the first quarter
of 2017 than in the corresponding period of 2016. -
more
Philippines – inaccurate test certificates for nickel ore pose
serious risk - Nickel ore is listed in the IMSBC Code as a Group A cargo
that may liquefy and shippers must, in accordance with Section 4 of the Code,
provide declarations and certificates evidencing that the cargo is safe to
carry with a moisture content below its established Transportable Moisture
Limit (TML). -
more
Downward
Trend in China's Steel Market Prices Not Cease Yet - China's market prices
of steel products still continued to fall. Its prices of all items in the
3rd week (10th-14th) of April declined nationwide. -
more
Afarak Mogale to increase ferrochrome production – Aim-listed
Afarak’s Mogale operation is now using all its operating furnaces to
produce ferrochrome following the successful transition of a second furnace
from silicomanganese to ferrochrome. -
more
Multi-child ‘Pentium’: The richest Minister Lev Kuznetsov
profiting from Krasnoyarsk region - In 2016, Minister for North Caucasus
Affairs Lev Kuznetsov declared the largest revenue among all Kremlin officials.
-
more
Trump
targets cheap Chinese steel in probe, rallying U.S. steel stocks - President
Donald Trump on Thursday launched a trade probe against China and other exporters
of cheap steel into the U.S. market, raising the possibility of new tariffs
and sending shares of some U.S. steel makers up over 8 percent. -
more
These
6 Activists Are Risking It All in the Name of Environmental Justice -
Here’s a little salve if you’re feeling burnt out about the state
of the world. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Thursday, April 20
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at
$4.24/lb
. Indicators
at 6:20 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.03/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose for a second consecutive
day on Wednesday and now total just over the 375,700 tonne level. Nickel
closed below support for second day, but traders apparently aren't ready
to give up on it just yet, with most technical indicators signalling buy.
INSG reported February was another deficit month for refined nickel worldwide,
although LME stockpile numbers are saying something differently. Industry
news is on the light side today. We hope each of you has a safe and restful
weekend and invite you to join us next week.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.49/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
(Tweet) Scotiabank's Rory Johnston forecasts nickel prices will average $5.00/lb
in 2017 and $5.50/lb in 2018
Dollar Drops as European Stocks Climb on Earnings: Markets Wrap -
more
Global nickel deficit deepens to 4,400 T in Feb - INSG - The global
market for refined nickel deepened its deficit to 4,400 tonnes in February
from a deficit of 1,100 tonnes in January, data from the International Nickel
Study Group showed on Wednesday. -
more
Stainless steel market update Mar’17- Prices reinforce in Europe
and USA, however down in China - The Asian stainless suppliers have been
struggling to recover after the end of the pricing downturn in February.
-
more
Miner’s net income sinks - Listed mining firm Global Ferronickel
Holdings, Inc. (FNI) reported its subsidiary, Platinum Group Metals Corp.
(PGMC), saw its net income drop 97 percent to P37.5 million last year from
P1.112 billion the prior year. -
more
Global Ferronickel 2016 income dropped on depressed world nickel prices -
more
US
Steel exports to European Union spike in February - United States steel exports
climbed by 6.2 percent year-on-year to 827,559 net tons during the month
of February this year and exports were 1.1 percent higher than in January,
as per the latest figures released by the American Institute for International
Steel. -
more
China's
Steel Exports in Mar Rise by 31% from Feb to 7,560 t/t - China's export quantity
of steel products in March released lately by the General Administration
of China Customs was 7,560 thousand tons (abbreviated as t/t), up 31% from
the previous month for the first time in 4 months and down 24% from the same
month last year. In February, as distributors focused on domestic supply
due to a rise in market prices of steel products, China's exports decreased
by 1,670 t/t from January. -
more
DENR's Lopez slams delays on mine closures - Environment Secretary
Gina Lopez vented frustration on Wednesday that mines she ordered closed
months ago remain open, aiming a broadside at a fellow cabinet secretary
whose office she blamed for slowing appeals that can only be resolved by
President Duterte. -
more
Zimbabwe: Asa Loses $4,3 Million, Fires Executives - Asa Resources
Plc, a product of a hostile take-over by Chinese investor, China International
Mining Group Corporation from former Mwana Africa shareholders, is immersed
in fresh controversy after its top managers are alleged to have designed
an obscure web to illegally move $4,3 million out of Zimbabwe. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Wednesday, April 19
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at
$4.22/lb
. Indicators
at 6:30 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.04/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME licensed warehouses rose by a huge amount on Tuesday
and now total over the 375,950 tonne level. That puts us back in the plus
column for the year, with cancelled warrants falling under 25%, their lowest
in two years. Regina Lopez was renominated by Philippine President Duterte
yesterday, and after laying low since her first confirmation hearings did
not go well she is back with both barrels firing today. Todays villain is
a fellow minister, who she accuses of helping keep the nickel mines open
that she ordered closed. Nickel closed below support of $4.25/lb yesterday,
but is trying to find its footing today. Yesterday, we read the story of
how nickel might have been partially responsible for a mass extinction on
earth 250 million years ago. Today we read where nickel ore is the worlds
most dangerous ship cargo. How much are you being paid to work with this
stuff?
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.51/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
The iron ore price rout just went up a gear -
more
Markets Start to Ponder the $13 Trillion Gorilla in the Room -
more
European Stocks Advance as Haven Demand Eases: Markets Wrap -
more
Industrial Metals Are Diving - Industrial metals plunged as traders
capitulated amid stock market declines and skepticism surrounding the outlook
for commodity demand from China and the U.S. -
more
Philippine environment minister blasts cabinet colleague over mine
closure delays - Philippine Environment Secretary Regina Lopez vented frustration
on Wednesday that mines she ordered closed months ago remain open, aiming
a broadside at a fellow minister whose office she blamed for slowing appeals
that can only be resolved by President Rodrigo Duterte. -
more
Robust
steel output in China shifts from being good to bad: Russell - In the first
two months of the year, China’s steel and iron ore prices were surging
because output was growing strongly, but now they are falling for exactly
the same reason. -
more
Carrying nickel ore: The world’s most dangerous cargo - In the
following article, Mr. John Wilson, Technical Services Asia, American P&I
Club (Hong Kong Office), explains why nickel ore is considered as ‘the
world’s most dangerous cargo’. -
more
Artemis saves on Radio Hill costs - Artemis Resources Limited said
the cost to re-commission the Radio Hill copper/nickel/cobalt metallurgical
treatment plant south of Karratha is significantly less than first envisaged,
with a timeline to operational readiness less than six months. -
more
Thorough investigation needed in Zimasco chrome offer - We received
with utmost dismay news that the country’s largest ferrochrome producer,
Zimasco may have pulled the wool over our eyes when it surrendered depleted
chrome claims to the Government. -
more
Clive
Palmer in court battle for nickel refinery assets - Clive Palmer is continuing
to fight for millions of dollars’ worth of assets from his liquidated
Queensland Nickel company. -
more
Mining
industry study downplays tourism in northern Minnesota economy - With claims
by some mining critics that tourism is a more sustainable option than copper
mining for northern Minnesota, and with the federal government mulling a
moratorium on new mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness,
industry officials fired back Tuesday with a new study that claims mining
jobs still drive the regional economy. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Tuesday, April 18
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at
$4.42/lb
. Indicators
at 6:15 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.07/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell slightly on Thursday and
start teh week just over the 369,350 tonne level. The London Metal Exchange
was closed Friday for Good Friday and Monday for Easter, so there was no
base metals trading there either day. Nickel is opening lower, with support
now lowered to $4.25/lb. Nickel continues to trade below all of the moving
averages, with nearly all technicals sending negative signals. The 20 day
moving average is now at a years low while the 10 day has still not hit as
low as it was when the year started. After the long holiday weekend, we have
a lot of interesting reading for you.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.53/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Pound Rises as May Calls Election; Stocks Drop: Markets Wrap -
more
Nickel
Prices: Commodity Flat, But Optimism Prevails on Strong Chinese Demand
Expectations - Nickel’s price movement remains subdued, continuing its
flat performance from the first quarter into April while the market awaits
fresh drivers. -
more
Duterte reappoints Philippine mining minister - Philippines President
Rodrigo Duterte has reappointed the environment minister who wants more than
half of the country's mines shut, but the official said on Monday she was
unsure if lawmakers would allow her to keep the job. -
more
Stainless
steel pipe, fittings & flanges report: April 2017 - Domestic stainless
steel producers announced modest increases in surcharges for April. Most
increases amounted to less than 1.0% except for Type 316, which the domestic
producers were boosting around 2.7%. According to MEPS International,
April’s austenitic stainless steel prices are likely to peak for the
year in North America. Although nickel prices are expected to surge in the
second half, they are likely to be offset by other reductions in mill costs.
-
more
Ni
SUS Scrap Purchase Price in Kanto Down to JPY125,000/130,000 from Apr 10
= Many of mills offer price cut from price in early April which remains unchanged
from prior month = As of April 10, many of the stainless steel mills in the
Chubu and Kanto areas offer the purchase price (delivered at plant) of
nickel-containing stainless steel scrap (SABOT) at the range from JPY125,000
to JPY130,000 per ton. (Hereinafter, the price is per ton) -
more
Zimbabwe: Foreign Mining Firms Accused of Under-Declaring Exports -
Zimbabwe may have lost potential income running into billions of dollars
through trade misinvoicing of key minerals such as diamond, gold and nickel.
-
more
Death
metal: how nickel played a role in the world’s worst mass extinction
- Around 250 million years ago, life on Earth nearly came to an end, in a
mass extinction between the Permian and Triassic periods known as the Great
Dying. -
more
Courtesy
AISI - In the week ending on April 15, 2017, domestic raw steel production
was 1,740,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 74.6 percent.
Production was 1,698,000 net tons in the week ending April 15, 2016 while
the capability utilization then was 72.6 percent. The current week production
represents a 2.5 percent increase from the same period in the previous year.
Production for the week ending April 15, 2017 is up 2.2 percent from the
previous week ending April 8, 2017 when production was 1,703,000 net tons
and the rate of capability utilization was 73.0 percent. -
more
Queensland Nickel: Clive Mensink remains overseas despite two arrest
warrants being issued - International fugitive Clive Mensink is not being
hunted by overseas law enforcement agencies, including Interpol, despite
two warrants being issued for his arrest. -
more
February
2017 Steel Exports Press Release - Steel exports rose slightly from January
to February to total 827,559 net tons. February exports were 1.1 percent
higher than in January and 6.2 percent higher than in February 2016. -
more
DOC
Investigation of Countries with Significant Trade Imbalances with the United
States - The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced that it and
the United States Trade Representative (USTR) have been directed by the President
to prepare a study on the countries with which the United States has significant
balance-of-trade deficits and the reasons for these deficits. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Thursday, April 13
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at
$4.42/lb. Indicators
at 6:10 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.00/lb
unchanged. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Wednesday and now total
just over the 369,400 tonne level. Stockpile numbers have only show a gain
one day this month. Another light day on the news front. The traded price
of nickel is once again trading below all of the moving averages, with nearly
all technical indicators tipping to the sell side. Support remains at $4.40/lb.
This is our last update for the week, so we wish each of our readers a safe
and enjoyable weekend and hope to see you back on Monday.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.57/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Trump Talk Weighs on Stocks as Dollar Extends Drop: Markets Wrap -
more
No
relief for the London Metal Exchange as volumes fall again: Andy Home - The
London Metal Exchange (LME) has just laid to rest its steel billet contract.
-
more
Philippines nickel ore exports continue apace - Apparently allaying
fears of any nickel export squeeze from major exporter Philippines, listed
miner Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc said it has started nickel ore shipments
to China with volume coming to about 550,000 wet metric tons (wmt) so far.
-
more
Western Areas restarts mill recovery project - The board of nickel
miner Western Areas has approved a A$17.5-million investment in its mill
recovery enhancement project (MREP) in Western Australia. -
more
The
Secret That’s Driving This Industrial Metal - Last year was very shiny
for nickel. The metal’s price rose about 15%. What does 2017 hold? -
more
Northwest
Russia polluter posts impressive cuts in harmful emissions - In a surprising
development, the Kola Mining and Metallurgy Company –which for decades
has stubbornly fouled air over Northwest Russia and Scandinavia – last
year reduced its emissions of harmful sulfur dioxide by more than 20 percent.
-
more
U.S.
Steel Shipments Dip in February - U.S. steel mills shipped 7.2 million tons
in February, a decline of 6.2 percent from January, but an increase of 2.4
percent from the same month in 2016, reports the American Iron and Steel
Institute in Washington. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Wednesday, April 12
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at
$4.46/lb. Indicators
at 6:20 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.06/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME licensed warehouses continued to fall on Tuesday
and now total just under the 369,700 tonne level. Wednesday's tend to be
a feast or famine day when it comes to industry news, and today appears to
be a light news day. Nickel traders did not buy into the positive technical
signal sent on Monday and the traded price is now lower for a second day
and back under the $10,000/tonne level. Technical indicators are now negative
with initial support around the $4.40/lb level.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.56/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
(Reuters) Thyssenkrupp could cut about 4 000 of the 27 000 jobs at its European
steel unit in a coming restructuring of the business, a representative of
trade union IG Metall told Reuters on Tuesday.
Automakers Spur Europe Stocks as Haven Dash Eases: Markets Wrap -
more
Global Ferronickel starts deploying nickel ore shipments to China this
year - Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. started deploying its first nickel
ore shipments to China this year, as the listed miner hopes to meet its full-year
shipment target. -
more
Nickel Asia Q1 shipment value surges by 47% - Nickel Asia Corp. , the
country’s biggest nickel producer, said that the estimated value of
its shipments in the first quarter of this year surged 47 percent from the
previous year to P2.19 billion on higher ore prices coupled with a weaker
exchange rate. -
more
U.S.
Export Volume of Nickel Scrap in February 2017 = Down by 7% from prior month,
and exports to Canada, Japan and India are down = According to the statistics
released by the U. S. Department of Commerce, the export result of nickel
scrap in February 2017 was 2,281 tons, down by 7.3% from 2,460 tons in the
prior month, and the average export unit price per ton was US$3,357.60, up
by 3.4% from the prior month. -
more
US HRC
Steel prices increase during March - US hot-rolled coil steel prices increased
in March, supported by a rise in scrap prices and low service center inventories,
according to the Steel Index. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Tuesday, April 11
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at
$4.62/lb
. Indicators
at 6:20 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.02/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses finally fell below where they
started the year at and now total just under the 370,900 tonne level. Nickel
closed for a second consecutive day above $10,000/tonne, and technically
this would send the market a buy signal, but we aren't sure traders are buying
it - pun intended. A few nickel miners in the Philippines are forecasting
prices for nickel ore will be 'robust' in 2017, and if this proves true,
it will be in part because miners in that country can't sell any to the world
market. Cyclone Cook has departed New Caledonia and while doing some damage,
left teh country "relatively unscathed' according to the country's president.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.56/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
(Kallanish) Xinxing starts building fourth Indonesian nickel smelter
New Caledonia 'relatively unscathed' post-cyclone -
more
El Niño Watch continues; eastern tropical Pacific waters warm -
more
Gold Gains With Treasuries and Yen on Haven Demand: Markets Wrap -
more
Philippines
top nickel miners expect firm ore prices on China demand - The two biggest
nickel miners in the Philippines, Nickel Asia Corp and Global Ferronickel
Holdings Inc, on Tuesday said prices for the metal would be robust this year
due to growing demand from China. -
more
Japan's
Purchase Price of HC FeCr for Apr-Jun Down by US Cents 11 = US Cents 162
per lb, as result of being largely affected by drop in coke price = Japanese
stainless steel mills have continued negotiation with multiple foreign
ferro-chrome producers to fix the purchase price of high-carbon ferro-chrome
for the period from April to June in 2017, and have recently come to an agreement
on the price to be down by US Cents 11 from the prior period. -
more
Chinese
Nickel market may remain under pressure during April - Nickel market returns
to be subject to market fundamentals after the commodity market digested
the news in early April that China will build new Xiongan New Area in Hebei.
-
more
Merafe’s Q1 ferrochrome production up 10% - The attributable
production of ferrochrome company, Merafe Resources, increased by 10% in
the first quarter of this year. -
more
China's
Qingshan Iron & Steel Continues Mounting Export Offensive = In the market
of HR austenitic stainless coils = According to a source, in the market of
hot-rolled (HR) austenitic stainless steel coils in the Asian region, China's
Qingshan Iron & Steel is aggressively proceeding with export negotiations
and is felt to dominate the market. Its price is said to be $1,900 CFR, and
the market prices are likely to be lowered by $200. -
more
China
steel outlook drags on raw materials futures - Concerns that China is producing
too much steel put pressure on industrial raw materials markets on Monday,
with key futures indicators, iron ore, coke and rebar all trading lower.
-
more
Resurgent Glencore can score in commodity uplift - I love big companies
with a story attached. When that story would do credit to the creator of
'James Bond', I like it even more. -
more
U.S.
Steelmakers Press Their Luck With Price Increases - U.S. steelmakers moved
fast to raise prices after new tariffs were levied on some foreign competitors
last year, but the quick increase has alienated some buyers and threatens
to short-circuit a steel-market rebound. -
more
Courtesy
AISI - In the week ending on April 8, 2017, domestic raw steel production
was 1,703,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 73.0 percent.
Production was 1,698,000 net tons in the week ending April 8, 2016 while
the capability utilization then was 72.6 percent. The current week production
represents a 0.3 percent increase from the same period in the previous year.
Production for the week ending April 8, 2017 is up 0.7 percent from the previous
week ending April 1, 2017 when production was 1,692,000 net tons and the
rate of capability utilization was 71.4 percent. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Monday, April 10
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at
$4.62/lb. Indicators at
6:30 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.02/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Thursday and Friday and
start the week just over the 374,500 tonne level. We will let you know when
stockpile numbers finally fall below the 372,066 tonne level they started
the year at. After a few quiet weeks, Philippine Environment Secretary Gina
Lopez is back on the warpath against miners in that country, imposing a 'tax'
on any nickel ore that has already been mined, before it can be shipped.
And we don't mean to pick on them, but back at Paydirt 2015 in Perth Australia,
Alto Capitol told attendees that they forecast nickel would "double in value
to in excess of US$20,000 a tonne before March 2017"
(source) Nickel continues to trade around the $10,000/tonne
level, with no momentum driving it in either direction.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.56/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Nickel price chart formed 8 months long Head & Shoulder reversal chart
pattern with very strong horizontal support standing near 640 levels. -
more
Stocks Mixed, Dollar and Oil Gain as Risks Linger: Markets Wrap -
more
Mining suspended in cyclone-hit New Caledonia as people seek shelter
- Cyclonic winds and heavy rain buffeted New Caledonia on Monday, prompting
residents of the French South Pacific territory to seek shelter and halt
mining of nickel, its most important export. -
more
How two Southeast Asian nations are shaping nickel market - So far,
2017 has been a memorable year for base metals, especially Nickel, given
the roller coaster journey the metal has witnessed in the past three months.
-
more
After Raid, Philippine Nickel Miner Asks Duterte to Allow Shipment
- A suspended Philippine nickel miner has asked President Rodrigo Duterte
to allow it to ship ore stockpiles after some cargoes were seized as tensions
escalated over a required fee it claimed was illegal. -
more
Lopez bullish on mine stockpile clearing ‘trust fund’ -
more
Sumitomo
Metal Mining's FY2017 Plan for Nickel Production = Production of Fe-Ni decreases
to 14,100 tons, and production of electrolytic Ni also decreases to 62,800
tons = According to the summary of the plan for metal production Sumitomo
Metal Mining Co., Ltd. released on April 3, the Company's production volume
of ferro-nickel (in pure Ni equivalent) planned for the fiscal year 2017
(April 2017 - March 2018) is 14,100 tons (7,100 tons in the former half and
7,000 tons in the latter half). -
more
S.Korea
buys 50 T of nickel for June arrival - South Korea bought 50 tonnes of nickel
for June arrival via a tender that closed on Thursday, state-run Public
Procurement Service said on its website -
more
Commanding the world's respect - (quote) The alloys combine a number
of desirable material features, including high tensile strength, excellent
corrosion resistance, very high coefficient of restitution and excellent
anti-wearing characteristics. A typical alloy is almost 1.5 times harder
than stainless steel and about 2.5 times stronger than titanium. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Thursday, April 6
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at
$4.67/lb
. Indicators
at 6:25 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Wednesday and now total
just under the 376,600 tonne level. Nickel rose sharply yesterday as part
of an overall optimistic mood among metals traders, but is quieter today,
as traders try to decide where US markets will head today. US markets were
sharply higher as well yesterday, but reversed coarse on news that the US
Fed will start unwinding its balance sheet sooner than expected, and ended
the days trading in the red. So far, US futures remain negative. Traders
will also be watching the two days of meetings between US President Trump
and Chinese President Xi in Florida. The Euro is also lower this morning
and adding negative pressure on nickel as ECB President continues stimulus
in that region. Industry news continues on the light side. Have a relaxing
and restful weekend and we hope to see you back on Monday.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.54/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Stocks Drop, Euro Wobbles on Central Bank Outlooks: Markets Wrap -
more
Here's
how much more steel China will need for its new megacity - China's new project
to build a megacity on the outskirts of Beijing will drive steel demand,
with the country likely gobbling up an extra 12 to 14 million metric tons
of the commodity a year if plans are implemented in 10 years, Citi Research
analysts said in a note released on Tuesday. -
more
US Steel
Import Permits surged 24% in March: AISI - Based on the most recent Steel
Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) data, the American Iron and Steel Institute
(AISI) reported today that the U.S. steel import permit applications for
the month of March this year totaled 3,413,000 net tons (NT) of steel. -
more
WA
mineral, petroleum sales up by $3.4bn in 2016 - Western Australia’s
mineral and petroleum industry reported sales of A$94.8-billion in 2016,
an increase of A$3.4-billion on 2015 sales. -
more
URU
Metals starts test work at Zebediela - URU Metals has confirmed the commencement
of metallurgical test work to assess the potential to process nickel
mineralisation at the Zebediela Nickel Project using acid leaching on an
existing drill core. -
more
Brazil's
Votorantim seeks stable debt metrics after annual loss - Votorantim SA will
focus on keeping debt metrics stable while completing key investment projects
this year to help Brazil's largest diversified industrial conglomerate return
to profit amid a challenging outlook, Chief Executive Officer João
Miranda said on Thursday. -
more
No
role for Clive Palmer at JFK library gala - The John F Kennedy Library has
shot down Clive Palmer’s claim that he needs to be in the US two days
before a compulsory court hearing into the demise of Queensland Nickel. -
more
Conservancy
director explains how easements protect property - Conservation easements
allow landowners to ensure their choices to protect their land are maintained
after their death or sale of the property. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Wednesday, April 5
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at
$4.53/lb. Indicators at
6:20 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.11/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose on Tuesday and started the
day just under the 376,900 tonne level. China returned to the market today,
after a two day break, yesterday being a tomb sweeping or mourning holiday.
Nickel is higher today, and back above the $10,000 tonne level, with cancelled
warrants jumping above the 27-1/2% level. Not much in the way of metals news
today. El Salvador became the first country in the world to ban mining within
its borders. And Australia courts have introduced new characters that got
money from Clive Palmer before QNI closed its doors. The soap opera continues,
with nephew Clive Mensink still on the run, supposedly somewhere in Europe.
May is the next big month for Gina Lopez and the future of the Philippine
mining industry, with her next confirmation hearings scheduled for the 3rd.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.50/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
(SO) China's steel sector PMI decreases to 50.6 percent in March
Stocks Rise as Oil Extends Gain; Data Boosts Pound: Markets Wrap -
more
Water takes gold as El Salvador bans metal mining - Standing in El
Salvador’s Congress as the Central American state voted to become the
first in the world to ban metal mining, Vidalina Morales’ elation was
muted by the memory of four activist colleagues killed during a 12-year campaign.
-
more
Battle
for Queensland Nickel millions begins - Queensland Nickel’s liquidators
have begun court action to reclaim $106 million ripped from the company’s
coffers, including the millions of dollars given to Clive Palmer’s
father-in-law and a mystery woman in Kyrgyzstan. -
more
Cuba,
Chile sign contract on mining investment - Cuban Commercial Caribbean Nickel
and Chilean RM Consulting firms signed a contract Tuesday on feasibility
studies on a future joint project to recover minerals, marking a new step
for foreign investment in Cuba's mining sector. -
more
Trump
Executive Orders Target Unpaid Duties, Trade Deficits - President Donald
Trump on March 31 issued an executive order aimed at “establishing enhanced
collection and enforcement of antidumping and countervailing duties.”
- more
South32’s operations boss moves into tech role - South32 has
reshuffled its leadership deck, bolstering its commitment to innovation by
promoting the head of its Australian operations to the newly created role
of chief technology officer. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Tuesday, April 4
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at
$4.47/lb
. Indicators
at 6:30 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.03/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Monday and now total
just below the 375,000 tonne level. Nickel is not seeing any boost from Tropical
Cyclone Debbie hitting Queensland, Australia last week, but we hear the price
of coking coal from there has jumped. President Duterte was expected to reappoint
Gina Lopez as Philippine the head of DENR yesterday and if he did, her
confirmation hearings will be scheduled for May 3rd. Nickel slightly higher
on overall market optimism after mostly positive ISM reports, and on a stronger
Euro.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.52/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Global Stocks Fall After Weak Car Sales, Yen Rises: Markets Wrap -
more
US stainless
sheet prices move up on mill hikes, high demand - US stainless sheet prices
moved up to start April as mills lowered base price discounts and demand
increased, sources said Monday -
more
AD and
CVD Investigations of Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip from China –
Publication of AD and CVD Orders - The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)
published in todays’ Federal Register the antidumping (AD) and
countervailing duty (CVD) orders on stainless steel sheet and strip from
China. - more
Japanese
Mills Decline Request for Markdowns of CR Ferritic Stainless Sheets - Prices
of cold-rolled (CR) austenitic stainless steel sheets in the Asian region
are falling by $50-100 due to a fall in prices of nickel, and with this price
down, pressures on markdowns of CR ferritic stainless sheets are also increasing.
-
more
Chemical
Change in Iron Ore May Have Sunk Giant Vessel - Over the weekend a tragedy
unfolded suddenly in the South Atlantic. -
more
Strange twist to mystery of missing cargo ship -
more
Indonesia mining min issues nickel ore, bauxite export recommendations
for Antam - Indonesian Mining Ministry official said on Monday the ministry
have issued export recommendation for state-controlled miner PT Aneka Tambang
(Antam) to ship nickel ore and bauxite. -
more
Pollution
watchdog slaps notices on two chromite mines of IMFA - Odisha State Pollution
Control Board (OSPCB) has served notices on two chromite mines of Indian
Metals and Ferroalloys (IMFA), the leading ferroalloys producer in the country.
-
more
Courtesy
AISI - n the week ending on April 1, 2017, domestic raw steel production
was 1,692,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 71.4 percent.
Production was 1,685,000 net tons in the week ending April 1, 2016 while
the capability utilization then was 72.1 percent. The current week production
represents a 0.4 percent increase from the same period in the previous year.
Production for the week ending April 1, 2017 is down 1.9 percent from the
previous week ending March 25, 2017 when production was 1,725,000 net tons
and the rate of capability utilization was 72.8 percent. -
more
Middle ground on mining? - I have always said that on the matter of
mining, there is no room for extreme positions. -
more
Dominguez on Lopez: 'Being a secretary not like being a crusader' -
more
Another war between Rody allies: Lopez vs Dominguez -
more
Reader's
View: Don't listen to the money men on copper mining - A letter to the editor
March 3 ("Leave the copper nickel ore in the ground"), shared what was learned
as a miner in Minnesota. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Monday, April 3
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at
$4.55/lb. Indicators
at 6:35 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading flat and little changed.
Stockpiles of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose on Friday and
start the second quarter for 2017 just under the 376,500 tonne level. While
nickel spent much of the month of February higher, the price of cash nickel
ended March about where it started the year. Stockpiles actually grew in
the first quarter, but only by approximately 4,000 tonne.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - ($4.64/lb March average)
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
(SO) Russia’s stainless steel imports up 64.4 percent in January-February
Peso seen falling to 51.80 to dollar in 12 months -
more
Europe Stocks Rise Fifth Day, Pound Falls on Data: Markets Wrap -
more
Chinese
Nickel Ore Imports: Snakes And Ladders? - China has played a pivotal role
in global nickel ore trade, accounting for almost 90% of global imports over
the last five years. -
more
China Nickel Ore Prices to Hold Stable amid Thin Trading, SMM Predicts -
more
Stainless
steel prices forecast to peak in April - According to MEPS, April’s
austenitic stainless steel prices are predicted to represent the peak values
for 2017, in Europe and North America. Alloy surcharges for grade 304 flat
products will increase by around €50 per tonne, in Europe, and by US$15
per tonne, in the United States, next month. -
more
“Certainly, the acquisition of Jubilee as CEO of Xstrata Nickel
was not our finest moment” - Great series of interviews by London-based
advisory firm Stratum International in its new publication containing feedback
from some of the global mining industry’s high-profile leaders on questions
about their past, present and future. -
more
Norilsk
Nickel wants tax deductions on its environmental investments - Siberian
industrial giant Norilsk Nickel, one of Russia’s most polluting, has
since 2014 been investing significant funds in unspecified environmental
improvements, and this week request tax relief for those investments. -
more
Norilsk Nickel sells its business center in Moscow for $100 million -
more
POSCO
Chairman Pledges to Double Operating Profit in 3 Years - POSCO Chairman and
CEO Kwon Oh-joon has pledged to almost double its consolidated operating
profit from 2.8 trillion won (US$2.5 billion) last year to 5 trillion won
(US$4.47 billion) within the next three years, declaring an aggressive management
strategy. -
more
Clive
Palmer is 'hosting a dinner for former President Barack Obama' - just days
before he is due in court - Clive Palmer has claimed he is hosting
a dinner for former U.S. president Barack Obama in Boston next month. -
more
Northern
Pivot: Why the Arctic is Set to Become Driver of the Russian Economy - Last
week, President Putin took part in the fourth International Arctic Forum
in Arkhangelsk, northern Russia. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
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"A Guide To LME
Trading"...pdf here(all ton listings are metric
tons = 2204.622 pounds ) Updated Monday thru Thursday before 8 am CST -
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Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing
(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
. Indicators
at 6:30 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb
Reports
Commodity/Economic Comments
China
demand concern push nickel lower - Nickel prices have hit 10-month lows as
worries about demand from top consumer China were reinforced by its trade
data, which showed falling imports of the metal used to make stainless steel.
-
Philippines bans open-pit mining as minister toughens crackdown -
Philippine Environment Secretary Regina Lopez said on Thursday she will ban
open-pit mining in the country, toughening a months-long crackdown on the
sector she blames for extensive environmental damage. -
Nickel under renewed pressure, scrap values fall - Global: Stainless
steel scrap prices have dropped back from the levels published in Recycling
International’s mid-March report, with the 304 quality sliding from
US$ 1290-1340 per tonne to US$ 1180-1230 and 316 material sliding from US$
1630-1680 to US$ 1530-1580. -
Western Areas set to sign offtake contracts with battery makers - Western
Areas is primed to sign its first offtake contracts directly with battery
makers as the WA nickel producer looks to lift revenue in volatile commodity
markets. -
Ring
of Fire junior taps China for development cash - KWG Resources is jetting
off to China in May to meet with its rail development partners and scrounge
for project financing. -
Ambatovy gets Cybermine simulators - Sherritt International’s
Ambatovy operation in Madagascar has commissioned ThoroughTec Cybermine operator
training simulators for its heavy equipment, which is the first Cybermine
order in the country -
Mining
Minnesota study misfires on tourism - A new study produced by Mining Minnesota
highlights the major impact of taconite mining on the region’s economy,
and contrasts that to what it claims is a much-smaller impact from the tourism
sector. The study, putting it mildly, has problems. -
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
. Indicators at
6:10 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading
unchanged. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Tuesday and now total
just over the 379,300 tonne level. Nickel gained slightly yesterday but
struggling again today. Considering world markets have bounced since the
French election and news on the Trump tax cut, nickel's struggles should
be concerning to miners and investors. Stainless steel producers, on the
other hand, are looking at lower costs, although some have apparently figured
out a way to keep profits manageable. Fuel surcharge increase? It's another
slow Wednesday news day. Next week could be a little more interesting with
the Lopez confirmation hearings rescheduled to May 3rd in the Philippines.
Munali
Nickel mine to re-open - The Munali Nickel Mine in Mazabuka, Southern province,
is due to reopen this year. -
Antofagsta
Reports Production Decline While Costs Creep Up - (excerpt) Molybdenum production
performed better, up 29% year-on-year at 2,200 tonnes, also up 10% from the
last quarter of 2016. -
Two
Latinos Win Prestigious Prize as ‘Grassroots Environmental Heroes’
- Two Latinos, one from East Los Angeles, California and one from Guatemala
are the recipients of a prestigious prize honoring "grassroots environmental
heroes." -
European
stainless steel surcharges hit four-month lows in May - Monthly alloy surcharges
on austenitic grades of stainless steel flat-rolled products in Europe for
May are set to fall to their lowest levels since January as both nickel and
ferrochrome prices have weakened, first mill announcements indicated. -
Colombia to clarify mining laws as ruling, vote worry investors -
Colombia's government will seek congressional approval to harmonize national
and local mining laws, the mines and energy minister said on Monday, as legal
wrangling over environmental regulations and community opposition threaten
investment. -
PPMAI
writes to steel ministry for import exemption - Capital goods industry has
written to ministry of steel to immediately issue exemption notice for easy
imports of steel used in high end industry application. -
Nickel
and Tin markets record small deficits, Zinc ends in surplus during Jan-Feb
'17 - The latest Metals Balances Report released by the World Bureau of Metal
Statistics (WBMS) indicates that Nickel market has ended in a modest deficit
during Jan-Feb ’17. -
Russian
Scientists Come Up With Supercheap Way to Produce Valuable Metals - Russian
chemists have created a new method for extracting metals like copper, nickel
and molybdenum, according to the press service of the National University
of Science and Technology MISIS. -
Vale's
nickel in matte output up 2% yoy in first quarter - Nickel in matte production
at mining company PT Vale Indonesia was 2 percent higher in the first quarter
of 2017 than in the corresponding period of 2016. -
Downward
Trend in China's Steel Market Prices Not Cease Yet - China's market prices
of steel products still continued to fall. Its prices of all items in the
3rd week (10th-14th) of April declined nationwide. -
Afarak Mogale to increase ferrochrome production – Aim-listed
Afarak’s Mogale operation is now using all its operating furnaces to
produce ferrochrome following the successful transition of a second furnace
from silicomanganese to ferrochrome. -
Zimbabwe: Asa Loses $4,3 Million, Fires Executives - Asa Resources
Plc, a product of a hostile take-over by Chinese investor, China International
Mining Group Corporation from former Mwana Africa shareholders, is immersed
in fresh controversy after its top managers are alleged to have designed
an obscure web to illegally move $4,3 million out of Zimbabwe. -
Ni
SUS Scrap Purchase Price in Kanto Down to JPY125,000/130,000 from Apr 10
= Many of mills offer price cut from price in early April which remains unchanged
from prior month = As of April 10, many of the stainless steel mills in the
Chubu and Kanto areas offer the purchase price (delivered at plant) of
nickel-containing stainless steel scrap (SABOT) at the range from JPY125,000
to JPY130,000 per ton. (Hereinafter, the price is per ton) -
Philippines
top nickel miners expect firm ore prices on China demand - The two biggest
nickel miners in the Philippines, Nickel Asia Corp and Global Ferronickel
Holdings Inc, on Tuesday said prices for the metal would be robust this year
due to growing demand from China. -
Resurgent Glencore can score in commodity uplift - I love big companies
with a story attached. When that story would do credit to the creator of
'James Bond', I like it even more. -
Mining suspended in cyclone-hit New Caledonia as people seek shelter
- Cyclonic winds and heavy rain buffeted New Caledonia on Monday, prompting
residents of the French South Pacific territory to seek shelter and halt
mining of nickel, its most important export. -
S.Korea
buys 50 T of nickel for June arrival - South Korea bought 50 tonnes of nickel
for June arrival via a tender that closed on Thursday, state-run Public
Procurement Service said on its website -
Brazil's
Votorantim seeks stable debt metrics after annual loss - Votorantim SA will
focus on keeping debt metrics stable while completing key investment projects
this year to help Brazil's largest diversified industrial conglomerate return
to profit amid a challenging outlook, Chief Executive Officer João
Miranda said on Thursday. -
Cuba,
Chile sign contract on mining investment - Cuban Commercial Caribbean Nickel
and Chilean RM Consulting firms signed a contract Tuesday on feasibility
studies on a future joint project to recover minerals, marking a new step
for foreign investment in Cuba's mining sector. -
