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page is archived news covering the period of March 2017
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Thursday, March 30
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at
$4.52/lb. Indicators
at 6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Wednesday and now total
just over the 378,400 tonne level. LME nickel continues to trade around the
$10,000/tonne level. Except for a drop earlier this week, LME cash nickel
has traded in the 10,000 to 10,250 tonne range since the second week of this
month. If we see another drop in stockpiles today like we have the last three,
we could actually end the month at a lower number than we started. The BDI
is suddenly back in the news, after rising 30% in the past few weeks. This
is a gauge that trades use to follow closely, but you rarely hear it being
used as a gauge of international trade anymore. Reuters reported cash nickel
fell to a $67 discount yesterday, its lowest discount since January 2015.
This is our final update for the week, so have a safe and relaxing weekend.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.66/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
'Hard to believe' Barrick didn't order police operation at PNG gold mine
-
more
How Putin’s Pursuit of Stalin’s Arctic Dream Lost Global Appeal
-
more
CEO of steelmaker Posco forges ahead into second term -
more
Why investors are paying attention to the Baltic Dry Index again -
more
Euro Drops, Bonds Gain on Dovish ECB; Dollar Rises: Markets Wrap -
more
Antam
gets initial clearance for Indonesia nickel ore exports -Official - Indonesia's
state-owned miner Aneka Tambang (Antam) has been granted an initial approval
to export up to 2.7 million tonnes of nickel ore over the next 12 months,
a mining ministry official said on Wednesday. -
more
Environmental push against mines spurs turmoil in Philippines - A harsh
environmental crackdown on Philippine mines has not only put pressure on
companies and workers in one of the country's most important industries,
but also sown seeds of discord within the government itself. -
more
Norilsk
Nickel opens new Murmansk terminal, says it will boost Arctic shipments -
Distinguished guests assembled on the Murmansk waterfront this week as mining
and metallurgy giant Norilsk Nickel opened its new and modernised terminal
facility. -
more
LME
hit by regulatory delays to proposal to slash margins - Regulatory delays
to a proposal to slash initial clearing margins by the London Metal Exchange
(LME) has dealt another blow to the exchange’s ability to fend off
competition from US rival CME Group, whose margins are sharply lower. -
more
Service
Center Shipments Decline in February - Service center shipments of steel
and aluminum in both the United States and Canada fell back in February from
January, but remain ahead of the 2016 pace in the U.S., reports the Metals
Service Center Institute, Rolling Meadows, Ill. -
more
Vale
to mothball century-old Ontario nickel mine - Living past 100 is no mean
feat for any mine, but for the Stobie operation in Sudbury, Ontario, the
end finally came on Friday. -
more
Nickel
Mine developer Horizonte Minerals kicks of feasibility study drilling programme
- Horizonte Minerals Plc has begun drilling work on its Araguaia nickel project
in northern Brazil that will contribute to the compilation of a feasibility
study. -
more
Former
Queensland Nickel workers waiting for answers as Clive Mensink still missing
from court - Former Queensland Nickel workers are hoping it is not too late
to get answers about the management of the Yabulu refinery after a second
warrant was issued for the arrest of Clive Mensink -
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, March 29
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
6:15 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME licensed warehouses fell on Tuesday and now total
just over the 379,850 tonne level. Warehouse totals remain above where we
started the month of March at - and also the year at. Next week we resume
the Philippine confirmation process of Gina Lopez for Environmental Minister.
If anyone runs into Clive Mensink at your local pub today, tell him the
Australian government wants to talk to him. He is believed to be in the
Netherlands and apparently, they want him bad enough to extradite. World
stainless production increased by 10.2% year on year, according to the ISSF
today. The Insurance Council of Australia has declared Typhoon Debbie a
catastrophic storm, but its not been reported if the damage there will affect
nickel shipments from that country. Only one death has been reported from
the storm so far.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.66/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 Slips on Brexit Day; European Stocks Drift: Markets Wrap -
more
Stainless
steel production for 2016 was 45.8 million metric tons - The International
Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) has released figures for the full year 2016
showing that stainless steel melt shop production increased by 10.2%
year–on–year to 45.8 million metric tons. -
more
(Press
Release) For the month of April 2017, North American Stainless will reduce
the fuel surcharge to 19% for stainless flat and long products. The surcharge
rate is considered a maximum level for April and will be reviewed monthly.
-
more
Global
Steel Price Recovery Expected To Falter Soon - The global steel market is,
currently, unrecognisable from that prevailing at the start of 2016, according
to MEPS International. -
more
Vale
Indonesia to build $2 billion ferronickel smelter in Southeast Sulawesi -
Publicly listed nickel mine operator PT Vale Indonesia plans to build a US$2
billion ferronickel smelter in Pomalaa, Southeast Sulawesi. -
more
4 Lawsuits
Now Seek to Block PolyMet Mine Land Exchange - Environmental groups have
now filed four lawsuits seeking to prevent the U.S. Forest Service from swapping
land for the planned PolyMet copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota.
-
more
No-show nephew gets Palmer new court date - Clive Palmer has been told
to return to Federal Court to help locate his elusive, globe-trotting nephew
Clive Mensink after a second arrest warrant was issued for the Queensland
Nickel director. -
more
worldsteel's 4th Steel Safety Day - The World Steel Association
(worldsteel) holds its 4th Steel Safety Day on Friday, 28 April 2017. -
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, March 28
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at
$4.43/lb
. Indicators
at 6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.02/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Monday and now total
just under the 381,200 tonne level. Technical support is now at $4.25/lb,
but nickel has yet to give up on the $4.38/lb support level we reported last
week. Quiet news day.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.68/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
China steel, iron ore sink to Feb lows as spec sell-off continues -
more
China - Earliest March data is showing improved economy -
more
Intense tropical cyclone Debbie struck Australia at about 18:00 GMT on 27
March -
more
Stocks, Crude Advance as Calm Returns; Rand Slumps: Markets Wrap -
more
[Korea's Steel Statistics] Results of Demand & Supply for FA in
December 2016 = Production volume is 26,087 tons, up by 0.4% from prior month
= The production volume of ferroalloys in December 2016 compiled by Korea
Iron and Steel Association (KOSA) was 26,087 tons, slightly up by 0.4% from
25,984 tons in the prior month, but grossly down by 25.7% from the year-earlier
month. -
more
Lawsuit
filed against PolyMet land exchange - Three environmental groups filed suit
in federal court Monday to overturn the U.S. Forest Service decision to trade
land to PolyMet Mining Inc. for the land where the company wants to dig
Minnesota's first-ever copper mine. -
more
Indonesian nickel smelter Indoferro targets $60 mln IPO - Indonesian
nickel smelter Indoferro, owned by Growth Steel Group, aims to raise up to
$60 million in an initial public offering (IPO) in the third quarter of this
year, business development director Jonatan Handojo told Reuters. -
more
Courtesy
AISI - In the week ending on March 25, 2017, domestic raw steel production
was 1,725,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 72.8 percent.
Production was 1,685,000 net tons in the week ending March 25, 2016 while
the capability utilization then was 72.1 percent. The current week production
represents a 2.4 percent increase from the same period in the previous year.
Production for the week ending March 25, 2017 is down 1.3 percent from the
previous week ending March 18, 2017 when production was 1,747,000 net tons
and the rate of capability utilization was 73.7 percent. -
source
Courtesy
AIIS - Steel imports dipped 3.1 percent in February, giving back an equivalent
gain in January to total 2.68 million net tons. Imports were 21.3 percent
higher than they were in February 2016. -
more
Palmer
back in court over nephew's no-show - A second arrest warrant for Clive Palmer's
globetrotting nephew Clive Mensink will be sought in an effort to extradite
and bring him to court for questioning over the failure of Queensland Nickel.
-
more
Why hasn't Julie Bishop been sicced on to the hunt for Clive Mensink? -
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, March 27
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at
$4.48/lb. Indicators
at 6:30 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.08/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel store in LME approved warehouses rose over teh prior two days and
starts the week just over the 382,150 tonne level. Market attitude remains
negative and it is hard to find a commodity that is trading higher this market,
as the world questions whether the Trump administration will be able to deliver
on campaign promises that have helped bolster the market since the November
election. In reality the inability of Congress to produce on the repeal of
the Affordable Care Act proves that a three party system, Republicans, Democrats
and the House Freedom Caucus, has made Washington DC an ineffective unit
for many years. It also has shown the new administration that it will be
forced to work with Democrats in the future, or it risks another embarrassing
defeat. In our opinion, this should have been easy for the Trump administration
to pass - and the wakeup call it's defeat sent - could be good for cooperation
in the future. Australia has issued a warrant for the arrest of the nephew
of that country's mining billionaire Clive Palmer, while in the French Alps
over the weekend, Russia's mining billionaire was robbed. Not sure about
you, but we are shedding all sorts of alligator tears for these poor guys.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.69/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
Dollar, Equities Drop on Doubts Trump Can Deliver: Markets Wrap -
more
Philippines allows suspended miners to ship out nickel ore after clampdown
- The Philippines' environment ministry has allowed eight suspended nickel
ore miners to ship out stockpiles of mined ore, sources told Reuters, temporarily
boosting supply from the world's top exporter of the raw metal after a major
crackdown. -
more
Would banning mining jeopardize our quality of life? -
more
Finnish
media watchdog accuses PM of pressuring state broadcaster - Finland's media
watchdog accused the prime minister on Thursday of putting pressure on state
broadcaster YLE by sending it a series of angry e-mails and texts over a
story about the awarding of a state engineering contract. -
more
Canada’s Mining Market may get a Boost due to Closures of Nickel Mines
in the Philippines - The Philippine government recently issued an order to
close 23 mines that contribute to 10% of the world’s supply of nickel,
due to the strain they place on the natural environment. -
more
Beijing
should let foreign firms list, says Kazakhstan metals firm seeking Chinese
‘New Silk Road’ money - Kazakhstan government-backed Eurasian Resources
Group, which is seeking Chinese finance for four metals projects involving
total investment of US$6 billion, has called on Beijing to open up China’s
stock markets for foreign firms to raise funds. -
more
Nkomati: BCL’s curate egg - The BCL Mine has been closed for six
months now, with little hope that the 4,500 direct jobs lost can be recovered.
-
more
Warrant issued for Clive Palmer's nephew over Queensland Nickel court
no-show - Judge orders police to arrest Clive Mensink and bring him before
the court to answer questions about the firm’s collapse -
more
New
Caledonia needs a sovereign wealth fund-French govt advisors - A French
government appointed panel of experts recommended the creation of a sovereign
wealth fund in New Caledonia to help diversify an economy heavily reliant
on nickel. -
more
Shoddy
utensils ‘threaten health’ - Several batches of stainless steel
products sold at local supermarkets were found to be substandard, the
city’s quality watchdog warned at the weekend. -
more
India
may impose anti-circumvention duty on some steel items - The government has
resumed investigations into circumvention of anti-dumping duties after a
stay order was vacated recently by court. The products originate from China,
Korea, EU, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and the US. -
more
Russian
billionaire robbed of fur coats in French Alps - At least two burglars made
off with fur coats worth around €100,000 ($108,000) from Russian billionaire
Mikhail Prokhorov's chalet in the French Alps last weekend, prosecutors said
Friday. -
more
65 Things You Might Not Know About Steel - While many of us associate
the introduction of steel into economics with the start of the First Industrial
Revolution, steel has actually been around for a VERY long time. -
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, March 23
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at
$4.55/lb lower. Indicators
at 6:30 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.04/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose on Wednesday and now total
just under the 382,200 tonne level. Nickel support has fallen to $4.38/lb
and traders bearish mood continues. LME traded nickel fell below the
$10,000/tonne level for a time yesterday and continues trading there today.
Stainless steel surcharge costs for April rose
(see
here), thanks primarily by high costs the last week of February. The
average cost of nickel is lower than this time last month. It's been a quiet
week, with the Philippine Lopez story in limbo, as well as the Australian
Palmer/Mensink soap opera. The official price of cash nickel has fallen over
$1000/tonne so far this month and for now, the bull is asleep. Have a relaxing
and restful weekend.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.71/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 Stock Selloff Eases as Yen Extends Rally: Markets Wrap -
more
February
2017 crude steel production - World crude steel production for the 67 countries
reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 126.6 million tonnes
(Mt) in February 2017, a 4.1% increase compared to February 2016. It should
be noted that there were 29 days in February 2016. -
more
Top Nickel Reserves by Country - Which countries have the highest nickel
reserves in the world? Australia, Brazil, Russia, New Caledonia and Cuba
are at the top of the list. -
more
Market
Trend of Import of Ferroalloy as of 15 March 2017 = Price turns upward in
China, which also affects overseas markets = The market trend of import of
ferroalloy as of 15 March 2017 is as follows. -
more
SEASI:
Steel demand registered double-digit growth in 2016 - Vietnam registered
the highest steel consumption growth rate among ASEAN region countries during
2016. -
more
Are
the odds stacked against Gina Lopez in the CA? - 'We respect her passion,
we even admire her for that, but being a secretary, passion is not enough,'
says Commission on Appointments member Josephine Ramirez-Sato -
more
DENR’s Lopez the first exec to address mining woes in PHL—IDIS
-
more
Antam
aims to export 6 million tons of low-grade nickel - State-owned diversified
miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) expects to export 6 million tons of low-grade
nickel a year after submitting a proposal to the Energy and Mineral Resources
Ministry to obtain the necessary export permit. -
more
Does
Norilsk Nickel deserve to be Russia’s environmental gold standard? -
Norilsk Nickel, the giant Northern Siberian nickel producer and historically
one of the country’s biggest polluters, won a prestigious environmental
nod from the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs for closing
down one of its most infamously befouling facilities -
more
Canadian
miner teams up with private equity firm to buy nickel assets - Canadian miner
Royal Nickel Corp is teaming up with private equity firm Waterton Global
Resource Management to buy, develop and operate undervalued nickel assets,
the companies said on Wednesday. -
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, March 22
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at
$4.61/lb. Indicators
at 6:30 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.07/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Tuesday and now total
just over the 381,700 tonne level. Nickel is getting whacked this morning
and is danger of getting caught up in an overall souring of speculation in
the market. Nickel fell over 1% in a few short minutes early in London trading
today, and has yet to show any signs of recovery. Reuters is blaming the
sudden market souring on a lack of faith in whether President Trump can get
the tax cuts thru Congress that he promised. We do not disagree, but feel
it goes much deeper than that. In our opinion, the market had an 'oh crap'
day yesterday, as markets, as well as the general public, tried to come to
grips with the prior days FBI's revelation that it wasn't the Clinton campaign
that was under FBI investigation on election day, but instead the Trump campaign.
Never mind all the crazy stuff that has come out of the mouths and tweet's
of this administration, the thought of a potential impeachment has suddenly
gone from a liberal fantasy, to a remote possibility. Markets hate the unknown
and FBI Director Comey threw a curve ball at the market on Monday.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.73/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 Retreat, Havens Gain as Trump Trade Wobbles: Markets Wrap -
more
Nickel
Price Steady With Lack of Fresh Drivers - Nickel prices were stable on Tuesday,
trading at essentially the same level as Monday with no new fundamentals
to drive the commodity in either direction. -
more
European
stainless steel surcharges resume upward trend in April - Monthly alloy
surcharges on austenitic grades of stainless steel flat-rolled products in
Europe are set to rise again in April, first mill announcements indicated
Tuesday. -
more
U.S.
Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip and Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length
Plate Manufacturers Granted Relief from Unfair Imports from China - On March
3, 2017, the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) issued
two affirmative determinations in favor of clients represented by Kelley
Drye & Warren. -
more
Cassini Resources see increased project value in rising cobalt prices
- Cassini will update its 2015 scoping study using a 95% higher cobalt price.
-
more
Japanese
Mills to Raise Prices Slightly in Negotiations on HR Coils for Asia = For
May shipment = The Japanese blast furnace mills are expected to commence
negotiations on hot-rolled (HR) steel coils for Asia as early as next week
for May shipment. -
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, March 21
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at
$4.61/lb
. Indicators
at 5:15 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb
. Stockpiles of nickel
stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Monday and now total just over
the 381,900 tonne level. Slow news day with nickel retreating yesterday on
a metals researchers advise to stop worrying about Philippine mining turmoil.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.74/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
Emerging-Market Shares Extend Gains, Euro Jumps: Markets Wrap -
more
High
Q1 ferrochrome price settled at lower Q2 level – Merafe - The European
benchmark ferrochrome price has been settled at US$1.54/lb for the second
quarter (Q2) of 2017, a decrease of 6.7% on the high-flying US$165/lb first
quarter (Q1) price, Merafe Resources announced on Wednesday. -
more
EU
member states approve authorisation for uses of chromates - EU member states
have agreed to grant four companies authorisation for uses of certain chromates
listed as substances of very high concern (SVHC) under REACH Annex XIV. -
more
Chrome
exports up 320% - Chrome exports more than trebled to $42 million in February,
up from $10 million in the same period last year on the back of increased
output, a government official has said. -
more
Courtesy
AISI - In the week ending on March 18, 2017, domestic raw steel production
was 1,747,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 73.7 percent.
Production was 1,685,000 net tons in the week ending March 18, 2016 while
the capability utilization then was 72.1 percent. The current week production
represents a 3.7 percent increase from the same period in the previous year.
Production for the week ending March 18, 2017 is down 2.5 percent from the
previous week ending March 11, 2017 when production was 1,791,000 net tons
and the rate of capability utilization was 75.6 percent. -
source
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, March 20
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at
$4.65/lb. Indicators at
6:20 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.04/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel fell both Thursday and Friday and now total just over the 386,800
tonne level. Stockpiles are still running about 5000 tonnes above where they
started the month, and last weeks 386,400 tonne reading was this years highest
reported total. Clyde Russell is an Asia Commodities columnist for Reuters
and in a column this morning, he is telling nickel traders to stop worrying
about the Philippines, no matter what they decide. Damstahl's March stainless
steel report is posted below and in our opinion, one of the best free monthly
reports out there. We expect a quieter week, with initial support at $4.55/lb
and resistance at $4.75/lb.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.75/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
LME Cobalt Price Again Rises and Marks New Record High -
more
Oil Weighs on Europe Stocks as Dollar Pares Drop: Markets Wrap -
more
Nickel
Markets Can Shrug Off Any Philippine Mining Ban: Russell - Just how worried
should nickel markets be about the latest threats by Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte to stop all mining in the world's biggest exporter of the
metal ore? Probably not too much. -
more
Suspended Philippine Nickel Miner Plans to Restart in Policy Test -
A Philippine nickel ore producer plans to reopen two mines suspended for
environmental violations while it awaits the outcome of an appeal, in a test
of rules around the government's crackdown on the industry.
- more
Australian mining firms closely watching after Tanzania imposes an
export ban - A surprise export ban imposed on gold and copper concentrate
by Tanzania's President has forced several Australian mining firms to seek
urgent assurances about the future of their operations in the African nation.
-
more
Ferrochrome
prices to cool off in the near term: Subhrakant Panda - Speaking to CNBC-TV18,
Subhrakant Panda said that the fundamentals driving ferrochrome prices remain
unchanged. -
more
Top
Indonesia nickel miner seeks to export six million tonnes of ore - PT Aneka
Tambang, one of Indonesia’s biggest nickel producers, is seeking government
approval to export six million metric tonnes of low-grade ore, two months
after the nation relaxed its ban on shipments. -
more
Two German firms keen to invest in nickel processing, gas sectors: BKPM -
more
One
in five mining jobs disappear - For every five people directly employed in
the minerals industry last year, one lost a job, according to data made available
yesterday in the National Assembly. -
more
Copper-nickel focus of Forest Service public hearing - With the federal
government weighing a 20-year moratorium on mining activity in the Superior
National Forest, Minnesotans took to the microphone for their side of the
issue, essentially turning Thursday’s U.S. Forest Service hearing into
copper-nickel’s most public trial. -
more
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, March 16
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at
$4.63/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 Wednesday and now total
just over the 384,900 tonne level. The US Fed raised interest rates by 1/4
of 1%, as expected, and base metals are getting a small boost today from
the lower US Dollar. Nickel is still trading below all of its moving averages,
and we show its first line of resistance is now slipped to just over $4.70/lb.
Until we find out if Gina Lopez will be confirmed as the Philippines
Environmental Director, it may take some major news elsewhere to move the
market with any definition. Have a safe and relaxing weekend!
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.77/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
Dovish Fed, Dutch Vote Spur Stocks as Oil Advances: Markets Wrap -
more
Nornickel
earnings fall in 2016 - Revenue downfall 3 percent, but net profit rose 47
percent to staggering $2,5 billion. -
more
Top
Indonesia Nickel Miner Seeks to Export 6 Mln Tons of Ore - PT Aneka Tambang,
one of Indonesia’s biggest nickel producers, is seeking government approval
to export 6 million metric tons of low-grade ore, two months after the nation
relaxed its ban on shipments. -
more
China's
Jan-Feb metals output rise on year -stats bureau - China's base metals output
rose quickly in the first two months of this year, government data showed
on Thursday, as the country's smelters ramped up production driven by rising
prices. -
more
New
BCL legal move a ‘tactic’ Russians say - A move by BCL Ltd’s
provisional liquidator to nullify South African approval of a $271.3 million
equity deal between the local group and South Africa’s Nkomati Mine,
is a purely “tactical move”, says Russian base metal giant, Norilsk
Nickel. -
more
Michigan
nickel mine embarks on tunnel project - Michigan's first new mine in decades
has begun a multi-year tunneling project to reach a second ore deposit. -
more
Twin
Metals public hearing could be big, but Trump might make it moot - Hundreds
of people concerned about the proposed Twin Metals copper mine near Ely,
both for and against, are expected to gather tonight at the Duluth Entertainment
Convention Center for a public hearing that some expect may not matter after
all. -
more
Mining in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters under review -
more
Appraisal raises questions on land exchange -
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, March 15
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at
$4.64/lb
. Indicators
at 6:20 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel store din LME approved warehouses rose on Tuesday and now total
approximately 386,400 tonnes. The US Fed is meeting and is expected to announce
a rate increase this afternoon. A small increase has been priced into the
market. A large increase could be taken either way by the market, while a
decision not to increase could be seen as a lack of faith in the economy
by the Fed. Nickel traders will have to wait until at least early May for
any decision from the Philippines on the fate of Gina Lopez. Her next round
of confirmation hearings are scheduled for May 3rd.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.79/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
How to Choose the Right Anti-Seize Lubricants -
more
Jindal Stainless might complete de-merger by March end -
more
Europe Stocks, Oil Rise as Bonds Steady Before Fed: Markets Wrap -
more
Timeline: Green crusader Gina Lopez wages war vs 'destructive' mining
- It's been a rocky start for Environment Secretary-designate Gina Lopez
as she tries to make a difference in the mining sector. -
more(see below for links showing ties Gina
has with the owners of this news agency)
Philippines’ Duterte wants mining ban, links miners to destabilization
plot -
more
Philippine lawmakers postpone vote on embattled resources minister -
more
China
Nickel Ore Port Inventory Keeps Falling, with Tight Supply to Support Price,
SMM Reports - The decline in nickel ore inventories at seven major Chinese
ports expanded again last week, Shanghai Metals Market reported. -
more
Upper
Peninsula mine seeks MDEQ permit to expand operations - A large Toronto-based
mining company has started expanding one of its projects near Marquette.
-
more
Indian
DRI plants face iron-ore shortage – Indian sponge iron, or direct reduced
iron (DRI), manufacturers are facing an acute shortage of iron-ore despite
the government liberalising norms for the allocation of iron-ore blocks and
with the country poised to achieve a five-year high in the production of
the raw material. -
more
For
research on the nominee for Secretary of the Philippines' Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, please see the following Wikipedia sites.
Regina
Lopez (w), who goes by Gina, is a member of the influential
Lopez
family(w), who own the
Lopez
Group of Companies(w). While the country's Chamber of Mines is confident
she will not be confirmed
(see article here), we are not convinced. Based on nickel's
price drop last week, traders are betting she won't as well.
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, March 14
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at
$4.61/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 rose on Monday and now total
just over the 384,500 tonne level. According to Reuters, nickel's plunge
of nearly 10% last week was its worst week since September 2011, while
yesterday's gain was its best one day jump in a month. We haven't verified
these statements, but it does reflect the volatility in nickel trading this
month, and thus the headache stainless steel producers are having in deciding
when to buy the mineral. Cancelled warrants came in under the 27% mark yesterday,
showing there are less buyers. The Philippine drama will now unfold in May
as the Commission on Appointments hearings to confirm Lopez as the Secretary
of the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources have
been delayed until then.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.81/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) AK Steel - members of USW Local 169 have ratified four year labor
agreement covering about 300 hourly production and maintenance employees
at Mansfield Works
Current state of the Pacific and Indian oceans -
more
Goldman Calls for Patience to See Commodity Gains After Rout -
more
China property sales surge despite gov't efforts to cool market -
more
Stocks Drop Before Fed as Pound Slumps on Brexit: Markets Wrap -
more
Indonesia, Philippines Vie For Dominance In Nickel, And Confuse Traders
- Nickel is now in play for investors trading on the political dynamics in
the Philippines and Indonesia. -
more
India
Nickel Scrap prices fall tracking weakness from Nickel Futures - India's
major nickel scrap prices fell on the Scrap Register Price Index as on Friday,
while nickel futures prices at India's Multi Commodity Exchange settled slightly
down. -
more
Courtesy
AISI - In the week ending on March 11, 2017, domestic raw steel production
was 1,791,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 75.6 percent.
Production was 1,685,000 net tons in the week ending March 11, 2016 while
the capability utilization then was 72.1 percent. The current week production
represents a 6.3 percent increase from the same period in the previous year.
Production for the week ending March 11, 2017 is up 1.8 percent from the
previous week ending March 4, 2017 when production was 1,760,000 net tons
and the rate of capability utilization was 74.3 percent. -
more
US Ferrous
scrap exports off to a slow start in 2017 - The latest statistics released
by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) shows modest decline in ferrous
scrap exports by the country during the first month of the current year.
Also, the data published by the US Department of Commerce (DOC) indicates
that nickel scrap exports by the country too declined during the month. -
more
ArcelorMittal, Italian Marcegaglia Submit Offer for Ilva = Both companies
commit the revitalization and continuous operational expansion of Ilva =
ArcelorMittal and Marcegaglia of an Italian steelmaker have submitted on
6th an offer for Ilva of an integrated steelmaker having been under the control
of the Italian Government with the contents of (i) investment commitments
of over 2.3 billion Euro ($2,450 million at $1=0.94 Euro) -
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, March 13
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at
$4.49/lb . Indicators
at 6:30 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.08/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Thursday and Friday and
start the week just over the 383,900 tonne level. The bearish mood continued
on Friday with nickel falling below the psychologically important $4.50/lb
level. Opening higher today, traders have done little since, apparently waiting
for someone else to make a move. For those betting that Gina Lopez may not
be confirmed in the Philippines, President Duterte has again made it clear
where he stands, making his own threats against the industry. For those American
viewers of 'Madam Secretary' last night, only in the fictional world of
Hollywood, can Duterte be silenced. Then again, we are sure the standard
disclaimer that the actors were not portraying any actual person, living
or deceased, really was true. Nickel's inability to hold the $5/lb level
and its fall below all the moving averages, really sends the market a bearish
signal for the second quarter of the year, typically one of its strongest.
And the volatility is starting to give stainless steel producers and users
headaches as they try to plan for the near future.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.84/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2016 - $4.36/lb / 2015 - $5.37/lb /
2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
S&P Global Platts China Steel Sentiment Rebounds in March -
more
Packed Calendar Has Investors in Holding Pattern: Markets Wrap -
more
Philippines' Duterte links miners to destabilization plot, wants mining
ban - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday accused some miners
of funding efforts to destabilise his government as he talked about a possible
plan to impose a ban on mining given the environmental damage producers have
caused. -
more
Chamber of Mines plans to file conflict of interest complaint vs. Gina Lopez
-
more
China
buoys stainless production totals in 2016 - Global: Interim figures released
by the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) indicate that global stainless
and heat-resisting melt shop production surged 10.2% last year to 44.9 million
tonnes. -
more
Electric vehicles won't depose stainless in nickel demand dynamics
- Investors hoping for explosive nickel demand growth, in tandem with the
electric vehicle revolution, could well be disappointed as any increase is
seen as unlikely to change a market dominated by stainless steel producers.
-
more
Stainless scrap makes gains amid hectic nickel market - Global: Stainless
steel scrap prices have made further strong progress since late January,
with the 304 grade advancing from US$ 1240-1290 to US$ 1290-1340 per tonne
and the 316 quality from US$ 1560-1610 to US$ 1630-1680. -
more
Update:
Vale shutters Sudbury mine - News that Vale is putting Stobie Mine on care
and maintenance is “devastating” for 230 of its unionized workers,
but it’s still too early in the process to determine what the impact
of a shutdown will really mean, said Rick Bertrand, president of United
Steelworkers Local 6500. -
more
Tunnel
to second ore deposit underway at Michigan nickel mine - Eagle Mine, Michigan's
first new mine in decades, has embarked on a multi-year tunneling project
intent on reaching a second ore body under state forest land that could extend
the mine's lifespan into 2023. -
more
Federal officials arbitrarily nixed important Iron Range projects -
more
Mine
closures hit exports - Recent closures of copper and nickel mining companies
have hit hard the country’s exports, Statistics Botswana (SB) has announced
in its international merchandise trade statistics’ monthly digest for
December 2016. -
more
Zimbabwe: VP Mphoko Intervenes in Power Dispute - Government is set
to repay a German investor in the ferro-chrome smelting sector the money
he used to set up a high-voltage power-line and a sub-station to his mine
near Selous, which is also benefiting other investors. -
more
Container
Shipping and Asia's Changing Economies - The viability of the international
container ship transportation industry depends on vibrant trade between distant
nations, and that trade depends on cost-competitive manufacturing industries
in the exporting nations, mainly China. -
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, March 9
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at
$4.63/lb. Indicators
at 6:30 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.04/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel took a break from two day so huge gains and fell to just
over the 385,800 tonne level. Nickel is dropping hard, with the $5/lb line
of resistance once again holding. The price fell below the first line of
support yesterday at $4.66/lb and the next line would be around $4.25/lb.
Everyone is trying to explain what is happening but nickel has fallen over
8% in the last few days as speculators bail in a commodities market that
has turned bearish as a whole. Below Citi makes the case that the correlation
between the traded price of the US Dollar and the traded price of commodities
no longer exists. The case was made a few years back that the correlation
between supply and demand and overall fundamentals no loner exists as well.
And without an article from Australia for our daily dose of Palmer drama,
we leave with you some news that ws only a matter of time before it came
to fruition - the Trump's name is somehow being tied to a nickel miner. Oh
well - what is life without a little drama? Have a safe and relaxing weekend!
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.92/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
Dollar Extends Gain, Euro Climbs Before ECB Meets: Markets Wrap -
more
Nickel
price is plummeting - Nickel fell to a 13-year low of $7,725 a tonne ($3.50
a pound) in February last year; then rallied to more than $11,700 by mid-November
only to end the year barely above $10,000. -
more
Stainless scrap makes gains amid hectic nickel market - Global: Stainless
steel scrap prices have made further strong progress since late January,
with the 304 grade advancing from US$ 1240-1290 to US$ 1290-1340 per tonne
and the 316 quality from US$ 1560-1610 to US$ 1630-1680. -
more
Strong
outlook for recovering ferrochrome industry – Merafe - Ferrochrome and
chrome ore prices recovered from rock bottom in the first quarter of last
year to levels twice and four times higher respectively in 2017, a year in
which a shortage of electricity supply has ceased to be a constraining factor,
ferrochrome company Merafe reports. -
more
The correlation between USD and commodities is now gone: Citi - It's
a given in the market that there's an inverse relationship between dollar
strength and the price of commodities, but Citi Research argues that correlation
is now gone. -
more
Ivanka
Trump, Husband Rent House From Foreign Mogul Suing US - President Donald
Trump's daughter and son-in-law are renting a house from a foreign billionaire
who is fighting the U.S. government over a proposed mine 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
Wednesday, March 8
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at
$4.83/lb
. Indicators
at 6:20 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.06/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses should be what everyone is talking
about today. Monday's 3,816 tonne increase was a staggering one day gain,
but it pales to yesterday's 5000+ tonne increase. Stockpiles now total just
over the 386,100 tonne level and more nickel than we have seen recorded since
June 2016. Most of the media is giving the news that Philippine DENR Secretary
Gina Lopez has asked that a second review of mines in that country be suspended
for legal reasons as the reason for yesterday's big drop in the traded price
of nickel. Maybe so, but we figure this is mostly a way to calm some nerves
until she is actually confirmed into her post. Her feelings towards mining
has been, and was very apparent yesterday, when she told one of the Commissioners
that her brother, a nickel miner, had 'killed a mountain'. The Philippines
became a mining 'boom town' when China discovered a way of processing low
content nickel ore. And those making money in a boom town environment have
a nasty habit of running rough shod over the locals and laws, and leaving
a huge mess behind when the boom times end. How things will play out in the
Philippines is up to the Philippine people. But it may be time for politicians
and miners start trying to find a compromise and not just use that word for
the media. In the mean time, where in the world is all this nickel coming
from??
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.95/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
Glencore Is on to a Winner With This Obscure Metal -
more
Treasuries On Worst Run Since 2012 as Pound Drops: Markets Wrap -
more
China posts rare trade deficit as Feb imports surge 44.7 pct in yuan terms
-
more
Lopez to CA member: Tell your brother he killed a mountain - Environment
Secretary Gina Lopez did not mince words during her confirmation hearing
at the Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday, March 8. -
more
Pro-Lopez group decries new CA ‘secret voting’ rules -
more
(History) Writ of Kalikasan filed vs mining firms, Zambales, DENR officials
-
more
Negotiations on CR Stainless Sheets for Asia Open But Doing Virtually None
= For shipments of the next quarter = The Japanese mills are likely to have
ended negotiations on cold-rolled (CR) austenitic stainless steel sheets
for Asia by the end of February for shipments of the next quarter (April-June).
-
more
US
Commerce finds dumping, countervailable subsidies of imports of Chinese SS
Sheet and Strip - The Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced its affirmative
final determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty
(CVD) investigations of imports of stainless steel sheet and strip from the
People’s Republic of China (China). -
more
Norilsk
Nickel intends to make life for industrial cities in Russia easier - The
Murmansk region on March 4 hosted a forum of social technologies, which was
a platform to share ideas on how to make life in mono-industrial cities more
comfortable and interesting. -
more
LME
Ni Average Price in February Up by 6% from Prior Month = Trend is upward
owing to regulation on operation of mines in Philippines = LME monthly average
nickel price in February 2017 was Cash seller: US$10,619.50 per ton (US$4.817
per lb) and 3-month seller: US$10,674.25 per ton (US$4.842 per lb). -
more
New bouts of price volatility could halt upswing in commodity financing
- A recent sharp uptick in public market equity financing should continue
funding mining projects to the tune of billions of dollars this year, but
the country’s top financiers are warning of new volatility risks that
could dampen the market. -
more
Queensland Nickel collapse: Clive Mensink ‘missing’ as court
appearance deadline looms - Globetrotting former Queensland Nickel director
Clive Mensink’s lawyers say they have no idea where he is and can’t
get in touch to tell him he has to appear in court in less than three weeks.
-
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, March 7
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at
$5.03/lb. Indicators at
6:20 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.04/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME licensed warehouses rose by a staggering 3800+ tonnes
yesterday and ended the day just under the 381,100 tonne level and just 1500
tonnes shy of the 2017 start figure. The International Stainless Steel
Forum released its 2016 stainless steel production figures this morning and
they estimate worldwide production increased by 10.2% over 2015, with the
largest producer, China, increasing by 15.7%. You can download their report
below. Traders continue to fight to beat the $5/lb level, but without success
- so far.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.96/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
Madagascar Braces for One of Its Worst-Ever Tropical Cyclones -
more
Europe Stocks Stall as Trading Drops; Metals Slide: Markets Wrap -
more
Stainless
Steel Production Increases By 10.2% in 2016 - We have released interim figures
for 2016 showing that stainless steel melt shop production increased by 10.2%
year–to–date. -
more
The
Mining Crisis in World's Top Nickel Shipper: QuickTake Q&A - The Philippines
is a trove of mineral resources, with deposits of nickel, copper and gold.
As prices rise and the economy in China -- customer No. 1 -- hums along,
these should be good times for Philippine miners. -
more
Philippines' Duterte seeks "happy compromise" between environment and mining
-
more
In
2017, Industry to Pursue Construction of 32 Nickel Smelters - Chairperson
of the Indonesian Nickel Producers Association (APNI) Ladjiman Damanik says
industry continues to develop smelter—processing plants—in Indonesia
this year. -
more
Association: 26 Smelters Will Be Operational This Year -
more
‘What
a difference a year makes’ – analysts outline mostly strong commodity
fundamentals despite uncertainty - “What a difference a year makes,”
John Butcher, principal economist at commodity consultancy Wood Mackenzie
exclaimed during a technical programme at the Prospectors and Developers
Association of Canada’s yearly convention this week. -
more
Iron ore prices could fall as much as 30 per cent in the second half of 2017
-
more
Strong
chrome demand to hold, but views divided on possible deficit - Strong demand
for chromite feedstock of ferrochrome will continue to hold on the back of
robust Chinese stainless steel output, but views were divided on whether
global supply will move into deficit due to constraints of South African
production to meet that demand, industry sources told S&P Global Platts
Monday. -
more
Merafe storms back after whirlwind year for ferrochrome - Merafe Resources
paid a four cents per share final dividend and laid in to its net debt following
a roller-coaster year for ferrochrome which first plummeted to a seven-year
price low before cresting to an eight-year high. -
more
US
Lithium to mine for copper, nickel, cobalt in Canada’s Saskatchewan
- Shares in US Lithium went ballistic Friday after the exploration firm announced
it had acquired a copper, nickel, cobalt project in Canada’s Saskatchewan.
-
more
Courtesy
AISI - In the week ending on March 4, 2017, domestic raw steel production
was 1,760,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 74.3 percent.
Production was 1,695,000 net tons in the week ending March 4, 2016 while
the capability utilization then was 72.5 percent. The current week production
represents a 3.8 percent increase from the same period in the previous year.
Production for the week ending March 4, 2017 is down 0.6 percent from the
previous week ending February 25, 2017 when production was 1,770,000 net
tons and the rate of capability utilization was 74.7 percent. -
more
Value of mining M&A plunges to lowest level since 2004 - With 2016
being a year of rock bottom-of-cycle prices, many expected it to also be
a good year for mining mergers and acquisitions (M&A). -
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, March 6
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at
$4.99/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 fell on both Thursday and Friday
and now total just under the 377,300 tonne level. Once again, after trading
over the $5/lb level on Thursday, the price of nickel fell back below that
level. The Philippines announced Thursday that they are considering copying
Indonesia in banning mineral exports to encourage more in country processing.
After a report was issued by the National Development and Reform Commission
stating it would shut /stop construction of coal-fired power plants with
capacity of more than 50 million kilowatts, China's Premier Li Keqiang told
National People's Congress at their annual opening "“Officials who do
a poor job in enforcing the law, knowingly allow environmental violations,
or respond inadequately to worsening air quality will be held
accountable.......We will make our skies blue again.” Expect further
cuts in excess steel capacity and a potential crack down on pig nickel processors
in that country.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.96/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
MK Metals Consulting Metal Market News 03/06 -
more
CSA Global highlights emerging trends facing the Canadian mining sector -
more
Stocks Rally Stalls; Euro Falls on French Politics: Markets Wrap -
more
Philippines Looking at Ban on Ore Exports in Reform Push, Nickel Jumps
- The Philippines may consider banning exports of raw minerals to encourage
domestic processing and boost the value of shipments, an environment official
said on Friday (03/03), as the government looks to extract more from its
mining sector after a crackdown. -
more
No new jobs for displaced workers if mining firms are closed — Caraga
officials -
more
‘Rehab of mining sites should be a commitment’ -
more
Japanese firm Sumitomo donates ¥2 million for Surigao earthquake
reconstruction program -
more
ERAMET
to Replace Chairman and CEO on May 23 = New Chairman and CEO is Mrs. Christel
Bories = On February 23, ERAMET Group announced that Mr. Patric Buffet will
retire from Chairman and CEO on May 23 and Mrs. Christel Bories will become
new Chairman and CEO on the same day. -
more
Asia
ferrochrome: Chinese output cuts, strong demand push prices higher - Tightening
supplies of high-carbon ferrochrome in south China, as well as high run rates
at Chinese stainless steel plants have pushed up spot import prices, market
sources said Friday. -
more
With money in their pockets, prospects improve for small miners - As
mineral and metal prices have rebounded from a slump, so have the fortunes
of small miners, and some industry experts are predicting even better times,
ahead of the industry's biggest conference for explorers and developers.
-
more
China
to continue to cut overcapacity in steel sector in 2018 - China will continue
to cut excess capacity in the steel sector in 2018, National Development
and Reform Commission (NDRC) Vice Chairman Ning Jizhe said at a news conference
on Monday. -
more
Tsingshan to Invest $5b in Morowali Carbon Steel Plant - Jakarta. Tsingshan
Holding Group, a Chinese steel conglomerate, plans to build a carbon steel
factory capable of processing 4 to 5 million tons of the alloy per year at
its facility in Central Sulawesi, the Indonesian Minister of Industry Airlangga
Hartanto told reporters last week. -
more
Copper-nickel issue simmering for a long time - Copper-nickel has been
simmering for a long time before its recent controversies involving Twin
Metals and Polymet. -
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, March 2
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at
$5.00/lb. Indicators at
6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.03/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose on Wednesday and now total
just under the 378,450 tonne level. Nickel continues to fight with the $5/lb
trading level, and what was once a psychological barrier, has since become
a technical line of resistance. Traders have beaten it on numerous occasions
over the past month, but since mid December, when the market fell below this
price, the market has been unable to get the momentum necessary to stay above
it. It's only a matter of time when it will, in our opinion. AK Steel raised
their base price on stainless steel, and we estimate, if they haven't already,
Allegheny Ludlum, North American Stainless and Outokumpu Stainless will follow
suit. Just days ago, MEPS forecast stable stainless prices this year, and
from an article quoting the agency in Scrap Register "Falling chromium
costs are expected to offset rising nickel values, over the next twelve months.
With basis numbers predicted to be quite stable, we forecast little change
in global stainless steel transaction prices, in the coming year." Obviously
AK Steel did not get the memo. And if you compare the stainless steel surcharges
for the first three months of 2017 to last year, you might wonder where MEPS
is getting their numbers
(link)
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.99/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
(Bloomberg 2/27) The S&P Global Platts China Steel Sentiment Index
slumped to 25.21 this month from 34.13 in January. The gauge is based on
a survey of about 75 to 90 China-based market participants including traders
and steel mills.
Dollar rises, stocks hold highs on March Fed rate hike bets -
more
New Risks Loom for China Local Debt, This Time in Dollars -
more
AK Steel
Announces Stainless Steel Price Increase - AK Steel said today that it will
increase base prices for all of its stainless steel products, effective with
shipments on April 3, 2017. -
more
Indonesia is under Discussion on Nickel Ore Export Quotas, SMM Learns
- No news about Indonesia’s nickel ore export policy has been heard
in recent two weeks. -
more
Four
more intend to sign up as clearing members of LME's precious contracts -
Four more financial firms, including Bank of China International, have agreed
to participate as clearing members in the London Metal Exchange's new suite
of precious metals contracts when they launch on June 5, the LME said on
Thursday. -
more
Indonesia's Antam collars first profit in 3 years - Indonesian state-owned
miner Aneka Tambang, better known as Antam, said Wednesday it earned a net
profit in 2016 after two years of losses thanks to increased nickel production
and higher prices. -
more
Will changes to Indonesia’s mining law hurt or help the environment?
-
more
Service
Center Shipments Jump in January - Service center shipments of steel and
aluminum in both the United States and Canada increased substantially in
January, reports the Metals Service Center Institute, Rolling Meadows, Ill.
-
more
Aurubis
to expand from copper into other non-ferrous metals - Aurubis AG, Europe's
biggest copper smelter, plans to expand into production of other non-ferrous
metals, new CEO Juergen Schachler said on Thursday. -
more
Clive
Mensink’s girlfriend found in Brisbane, putting his claims of
‘bonding’ holiday in doubt - Clive Mensink’s post-divorce
girlfriend has reportedly been tracked down in Brisbane, contradicting the
former Queensland Nickel director’s claims he could not cut his overseas
trip short because he was “bonding” with his new girlfriend and
did not want to “let her down”. -
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, March 1
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at
$4.98/lb. Indicators
at 6:30 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.04/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose on Tuesday and ended the
month of February just under the 377,800 tonne level. Light news day and
nickel is back to playing cat and mouse with the $5/lb level. There is an
article below posted by the Scrap Register and copied from MEPS that we believe
is misleading. We show the average price of cash nickel jumped from $4.53
to $4.82/lb last month. To announce that stainless steel price increases
are over - is a stretch of the imagination. But we linked to the article
since MEPS is a respected metals analyst.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.82/lb (Feb 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
Standard Chartered - "We believe that we are at a critical turning
point in fundamentals, which will weigh on nickel prices. First, the latest
fundamental data shows the nickel market softening into year-end due to a
sharp upswing in Indonesia's output."
Fed trumps Trump as dollar, U.S. Treasury yields soar -
more
Stainless
Steel prices set to stabilize after a year of growth - This is because the
average LME nickel prices during the reference period, were slightly lower
than those during the previous month. -
more
Mining ban raises risks in the Philippines - A decision to close, suspend
and cancel mining operations has come under fire as yet another of President
Rodrigo Duterte's ill-considered policies -
more
Philippine Congress postpones embattled minister's confirmation hearing -
more
Tata
Steel's First Greenfield Ferro-Chrome Plant in India at Gopalpur Starts
Production - The recently commissioned ferro-chrome plant of Tata Steel at
Gopalpur Industrial Park in Ganjam district of Odisha, has achieved a major
milestone with the first ever production of ferro-chrome on February 25,
2017, with compliance to all technical parameters. -
more
What’s Impact on Metal Producers in Sichuan from Latest Environmental
Protection Inspections? SMM Reports - China has stepped up its efforts in
environmental protection in recent years, and the central environmental
protection inspection team has arrived at Sichuan for its latest inspections.
-
more
10 Top Nickel-producing Countries - The Philippines, Russia and Canada
were the top producers of the metal in 2016. -
more
What
a booming steel sector says about China’s ‘old’ economy: Andy
Home - Chinese steel production rose by 7.4 percent in January compared with
a year earlier, according to the World Steel Association (WSA). -
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
"A Guide To LME
Trading"...pdf here(all ton listings are metric
tons = 2204.622 pounds ) Updated Monday thru Thursday before 8 am CST -
DisclaimerOriginal content and opinions copyright
www.estainlesssteel.com. All prices shown on this page
are indications only. Note - For real time and official LME prices, LME requires
a user subscribe to an authorized LME vendor.
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing
(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
. Indicators
at 6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb
Reports
Commodity/Economic Comments
Antam
gets initial clearance for Indonesia nickel ore exports -Official - Indonesia's
state-owned miner Aneka Tambang (Antam) has been granted an initial approval
to export up to 2.7 million tonnes of nickel ore over the next 12 months,
a mining ministry official said on Wednesday. -
Environmental push against mines spurs turmoil in Philippines - A harsh
environmental crackdown on Philippine mines has not only put pressure on
companies and workers in one of the country's most important industries,
but also sown seeds of discord within the government itself. -
Norilsk
Nickel opens new Murmansk terminal, says it will boost Arctic shipments -
Distinguished guests assembled on the Murmansk waterfront this week as mining
and metallurgy giant Norilsk Nickel opened its new and modernised terminal
facility. -
LME
hit by regulatory delays to proposal to slash margins - Regulatory delays
to a proposal to slash initial clearing margins by the London Metal Exchange
(LME) has dealt another blow to the exchange’s ability to fend off
competition from US rival CME Group, whose margins are sharply lower. -
Service
Center Shipments Decline in February - Service center shipments of steel
and aluminum in both the United States and Canada fell back in February from
January, but remain ahead of the 2016 pace in the U.S., reports the Metals
Service Center Institute, Rolling Meadows, Ill. -
Vale
to mothball century-old Ontario nickel mine - Living past 100 is no mean
feat for any mine, but for the Stobie operation in Sudbury, Ontario, the
end finally came on Friday. -
Nickel
Mine developer Horizonte Minerals kicks of feasibility study drilling programme
- Horizonte Minerals Plc has begun drilling work on its Araguaia nickel project
in northern Brazil that will contribute to the compilation of a feasibility
study. -
Former
Queensland Nickel workers waiting for answers as Clive Mensink still missing
from court - Former Queensland Nickel workers are hoping it is not too late
to get answers about the management of the Yabulu refinery after a second
warrant was issued for the arrest of Clive Mensink -
. Indicators at
6:15 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb
Stainless
steel production for 2016 was 45.8 million metric tons - The International
Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) has released figures for the full year 2016
showing that stainless steel melt shop production increased by 10.2%
year–on–year to 45.8 million metric tons. -
Global
Steel Price Recovery Expected To Falter Soon - The global steel market is,
currently, unrecognisable from that prevailing at the start of 2016, according
to MEPS International. -
[Korea's Steel Statistics] Results of Demand & Supply for FA in
December 2016 = Production volume is 26,087 tons, up by 0.4% from prior month
= The production volume of ferroalloys in December 2016 compiled by Korea
Iron and Steel Association (KOSA) was 26,087 tons, slightly up by 0.4% from
25,984 tons in the prior month, but grossly down by 25.7% from the year-earlier
month. -
Finnish
media watchdog accuses PM of pressuring state broadcaster - Finland's media
watchdog accused the prime minister on Thursday of putting pressure on state
broadcaster YLE by sending it a series of angry e-mails and texts over a
story about the awarding of a state engineering contract. -
Beijing
should let foreign firms list, says Kazakhstan metals firm seeking Chinese
‘New Silk Road’ money - Kazakhstan government-backed Eurasian Resources
Group, which is seeking Chinese finance for four metals projects involving
total investment of US$6 billion, has called on Beijing to open up China’s
stock markets for foreign firms to raise funds. -
Nkomati: BCL’s curate egg - The BCL Mine has been closed for six
months now, with little hope that the 4,500 direct jobs lost can be recovered.
-
New
Caledonia needs a sovereign wealth fund-French govt advisors - A French
government appointed panel of experts recommended the creation of a sovereign
wealth fund in New Caledonia to help diversify an economy heavily reliant
on nickel. -
India
may impose anti-circumvention duty on some steel items - The government has
resumed investigations into circumvention of anti-dumping duties after a
stay order was vacated recently by court. The products originate from China,
Korea, EU, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and the US. -
65 Things You Might Not Know About Steel - While many of us associate
the introduction of steel into economics with the start of the First Industrial
Revolution, steel has actually been around for a VERY long time. -
SEASI:
Steel demand registered double-digit growth in 2016 - Vietnam registered
the highest steel consumption growth rate among ASEAN region countries during
2016. -
. Indicators
at 6:30 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.07/lb
Nickel
Price Steady With Lack of Fresh Drivers - Nickel prices were stable on Tuesday,
trading at essentially the same level as Monday with no new fundamentals
to drive the commodity in either direction. -
European
stainless steel surcharges resume upward trend in April - Monthly alloy
surcharges on austenitic grades of stainless steel flat-rolled products in
Europe are set to rise again in April, first mill announcements indicated
Tuesday. -
Japanese
Mills to Raise Prices Slightly in Negotiations on HR Coils for Asia = For
May shipment = The Japanese blast furnace mills are expected to commence
negotiations on hot-rolled (HR) steel coils for Asia as early as next week
for May shipment. -
High
Q1 ferrochrome price settled at lower Q2 level – Merafe - The European
benchmark ferrochrome price has been settled at US$1.54/lb for the second
quarter (Q2) of 2017, a decrease of 6.7% on the high-flying US$165/lb first
quarter (Q1) price, Merafe Resources announced on Wednesday. -
Chrome
exports up 320% - Chrome exports more than trebled to $42 million in February,
up from $10 million in the same period last year on the back of increased
output, a government official has said. -
Australian mining firms closely watching after Tanzania imposes an
export ban - A surprise export ban imposed on gold and copper concentrate
by Tanzania's President has forced several Australian mining firms to seek
urgent assurances about the future of their operations in the African nation.
-
ArcelorMittal, Italian Marcegaglia Submit Offer for Ilva = Both companies
commit the revitalization and continuous operational expansion of Ilva =
ArcelorMittal and Marcegaglia of an Italian steelmaker have submitted on
6th an offer for Ilva of an integrated steelmaker having been under the control
of the Italian Government with the contents of (i) investment commitments
of over 2.3 billion Euro ($2,450 million at $1=0.94 Euro) -
ERAMET
to Replace Chairman and CEO on May 23 = New Chairman and CEO is Mrs. Christel
Bories = On February 23, ERAMET Group announced that Mr. Patric Buffet will
retire from Chairman and CEO on May 23 and Mrs. Christel Bories will become
new Chairman and CEO on the same day. -
Aurubis
to expand from copper into other non-ferrous metals - Aurubis AG, Europe's
biggest copper smelter, plans to expand into production of other non-ferrous
metals, new CEO Juergen Schachler said on Thursday. -
