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Wednesday, May 31

• Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at $4.13/lb . Indicators at 6:15 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.10/lb lower. Stockpiles of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Tuesday and now total just under the 379,000 tonne level. Stockpile numbers are now lower for the month, with only today left to change that statement. Chinese traders returned to the market today and on news that Indonesia's largest nickel miner has made its first shipment of nickel ore after that country ended an export ban, they have driven nickel below the $9000/tonne level and nickel is in danger of slipping below the $4/lb level.  The last time nickel traded this low was June 16 of last year, and the first half of last year was the lowest nickel had traded since well before the price spike of 2007. In other words, it is doubtful we will see nickel trade much low and the downside potential is limited. $3.83/lb on May 1st, 2016 would be your traded low for the past decade. $4.03lb is a technical line of support and that is being tested today. Stay tuned.
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.16/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - Rising supplies, weak demand push nickel to 11-month low - more

  Reports

• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• Election Jitters Hit Pound; Oil Drops Before Data: Markets Wrap - more

     Bull run in commodities nearing end; base metals likely to lead fall - Global commodity market started its bull run in October 2016 and the momentum shifted in top gear after election of the US President Trump, who had promised to stimulate the economy by spending more on infrastructure. - more

     Antam starts exporting nickel after relaxation policy - State-owned diversified miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) has started exporting its low-grade nickel, with content below 1.7 percent, following the government’s decision to relax its mineral export ban earlier this year. - more

     China's Steel Output Climbs Despite Cuts - Another month, another record for Chinese steel manufacturers - more

     Buying Sentiment Deteriorates in Emerging Steel Markets - Challenging business conditions persist in the Russian Federation, according to MEPS. - more

     Mining sees short-lived impact, might even benefit from martial law - The mining industry says the impact of martial law in Mindanao will be short-lived, and business could even pick up if the island’s peace and order problems are resolved. - more

     Twin Metals' owner has a history of environmental disaster in its homeland - Twin Metals, a Minnesota company owned by Chilean mining titan Antofagasta Minerals, has dreams of striking valuable copper, nickel, and platinum near Ely. - more

     Courtesy AISI - In the week ending on May 27, 2017, domestic raw steel production was 1,753,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 75.2 percent. Production was 1,732,000 net tons in the week ending May 27, 2016 while the capability utilization then was 74.1 percent. The current week production represents a 1.2 percent increase from the same period in the previous year. Production for the week ending May 27, 2017 is up 0.7 percent from the previous week ending May 20, 2017 when production was 1,741,000 net tons and the rate of capability utilization was 74.7 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 30

• Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at $4.12/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 fell on Friday and now total just under the 380,300 tonne level. Nickel is one of the few commodities trading on the positive side, but showing little enthusiasm at the moment. The US Dollar is trading higher against the Euro on Greek and Italian financial worries. China is closed today for their Dragon Boat Festival, the London Metal Exchange was closed yesterday for their Spring Bank Holiday and US markets were closed for Memorial Day. Summer has unofficially begun around the world - at least north of the equator. Guatemala mine riots, with deaths recorded, are back in the news. The contest amongst four Canadian cities for a new ferrochrome smelter continues. Nickel is trading dangerously close to $4.00/lb but traders and computers are probably looking at $9000/tonne as more important. Tomorrow is the last day of the month, so we don't expect much to happen in the market this week.
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month -  $4.16/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - London copper drifts as dollar climbs in holiday-thinned trade - more

  Reports

• World Steel in Figures 2017 now available - more
• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• Iron ore has lost 40% in 3 months and is now back below $60 a tonne - more
• (TJN) The S&P Global Platts China Steel Sentiment Index slumped to 33.1 this month from 45.1 in April, weighed down by the outlook for domestic steel orders.
• Europe Risks Weigh on Stocks; Crude, Gold Retreat: Markets Wrap - more

     Mining in Indonesia: Nickel Price to Remain Under Pressure - The nickel price is expected to remain under pressure up to (at least) the second half of 2018 due to the structural oversupply in the world market. So far this year the nickel price has fallen 9.38 percent to USD $9,080 per ton (London Metal Exchange). - more

     Clashes in Guatemala Mining Protest Leaves 1 Dead, 6 Injured - Opponents of the mine argue that contamination has already impacted the local artisanal fishing industry local families depend on. - more

     Production of SUS Products in February 2017 Is 232,919 Tons = Down by 3% from prior month due to decreased production of chrome-type product = The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced the production volume of stainless steel products (hot-rolled products) in February 2017 was 232,919 tons, which was down by 2.8% from the prior month and down by 0.6% from the year-earlier month. - more

     Odisha: Ferro Alloys says closure of mines will force company to discontinue CSR - With its two chromites mines and its two ferrochrome plants in Odisha shut for over a month, Indian Metal and Ferro Alloys, India’s largest fully-integrated producer of ferroalloys, Saturday said the closure will force the company to discontinue its CSR activities in Odisha. - more

      Ferrochrome smelter opportunity gleams in eyes of Sault councillors - 'We went from not being in consideration to being at the top of the consideration' - Mayor Christian Provenzano on proposed ferrochrome smelter  - more

• Sault Ste. Marie angling for inside track on Ring of Fire smelter - more

     DENR starts retrieving thousands of trees felled by Palawan nickel miner - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is retrieving thousands of a mix of old-growth and secondary trees that were indiscriminately felled by Ipilan Nickel Corp. (INC) operating in Palawan. - more

     Vale to celebrate Stobie’s last skip on May 30 - On May 30, the final load of ore — a.k.a. the last “skip” — will rise from the depths of Stobie Mine. - more

     WA's three richest people worth $21b combined, thanks to iron ore - Three Perth residents were among Australia's top 10 wealthiest people, the nation's best known rich list has revealed.  - more

     Mine health, safety icons mourned - Two men connected to the fight for better health and safety in Ontario's mines are being remembered today. - 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 25

• Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at $4.13/lb . Indicators at 6:15 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 383,800 tonne level. The week went somewhat quiet without the Lopez drama in the Philippines and Palmer drama in Australia carrying headlines. Someone in the Philippines figured that since Lopez was gone even if she had successfully brought the environment to the forefront of everyone's mind, that it was the perfect time to cut down 15,000 trees without a permit for a new nickel mine. Can you spell 'clueless'? Here is a quote from the article below about Duterte asking for help from Russia. Associate professor at the Higher School of Economics Dmitry Ofitserov-Belsky to Sputnik Radio - "“I think that Russia, for example, can help the Philippines in both developing and processing nickel ore on its own territory and that can stabilize prices for this resource in the international market,” Ofitserov-Belsky said." There was talk when Indonesia put a ban on exports of nickel ore, that Russia had a hand in that decision. Maybe just a story put out by those who see a conspiracy in the mirror each morning. This si our last update for the week. Monday is Memorial Day in the US, so our next update will be on Tuesday, May 30th. Wish each of you a safe and relaxing weekend.
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.17/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - Copper steady, at risk from weaker China demand - more

  Reports

• U.S. Imports of Stainless Steel Mill Products - more
• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• Steel vital to national security, industry pleads - more
• Duterte Asks Putin for 'Help and Support in Fight Against Daesh' - more
• All Eyes on Vienna as Oil Drops; Growth Hits Pound: Markets Wrap - more

     Nickel miner says unit unaffected by Mindanao martial law - Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. (GFNI), the Philippines's second largest nickel miner, on Wednesday said its unit operating in Mindanao is unaffected by the declaration of martial law in the island. - more

     April 2017 crude steel production - World crude steel production for the 67 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 142.1 million tonnes (Mt) in April 2017, a 5.0% increase compared to April 2016. - more

     Policy upheavals buffet mining in Philippines, Indonesia - In the eyes of Diosdado Alota, chief of Guinabon village in the northwest Philippines, the mining industry is key to his community's health. - more

     Sacking of Philippines environmental secretary good for nickel - U.S. economic growth is likely to be subdued this year following the Federal Reserve's lifting of its policy rate in March, with inflation and forecast inflation on the downside in recent months. - more

     Glencore questioned over fatalities, unions and environment - Global commodities miner and marketer Glencore fielded a number of questions from shareholders, trade unionists and environmentalists at its AGM in Switzerland on Wednesday, including several about the 16 fatalities at its operations last year. - more

     Mining firm faces looming legal battle for cutting trees in Palawan - Environment chief Roy Cimatu assured President Rodrigo Duterte that Ipilan Nickel Corporation (INC) will face charges if investigation into its alleged illegal mining-related activities in Palawan province warrants so. - 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 24

• Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at $4.24/lb . Indicators at 6:15 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.09/lb lower. Stockpiles of nickel - well forget what we said yesterday about the month finally showing a negative growth on stockpiles, because it lasted only a few days. Yesterday they grew by 6,384 tonnes, and now sit just shy of the 384,800 tonne level, Still a few thousand tonnes shy of the 2017 high, but well over the level we saw the year, and month, start at. Moody's downgraded China's debt today, a first for this century, and commodity markets are taking note.   
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.17/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - London copper slips after Moody's downgrades China - more

  Reports

• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• Where & Why Nickel is Used - more
• Moody's downgrades China's debt for first time in 26 years - more
• Iron and Metals Slump as Moody's Puts China's Debt in Spotlight - more

     BHP hopes for more nickel mines in WA - Mining major BHP has confirmed that it is pursuing environmental approvals to develop two satellite pits to support production from its Mt Keith operation, in Western Australia. - more

     Ipilan Nickel Corp. asked to explain tree cutting spree - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has given Ipilan Nickel Corp. (INC) until Wednesday to explain why no criminal charges should be filed against the mining company over its massive indiscriminate tree cutting in the town of Brooke’s Point in Palawan province. - more

     Freight hikes 'may hinder' stainless scrap movements -  Asia: Production of stainless steel has been at elevated levels but, if the normal business cycle is to be followed, there will be a decline during the summer months. - more

     Japan's chrome-moly steel demand robust despite slow car output: sources - Demand for chrome-molybdenum alloy steel sheets, used for automotive components, has been robust in Japan despite major automakers cutting domestic production in the second quarter, market sources said Wednesday. - more

     Rodrigo Duterte puts Mindanao under martial law on militant clashes - Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte cuts short trip to Russia after declaring 60-day martial law in Mindanao island after clashes between government troops and ISIS - more

     Bidding for Botswana's BCL Group reopened after no offer from suitor - Bidding for BCL Group, which owns Botswana's largest copper and nickel mine, has been reopened to other investors after an exclusivity period granted to a suitor, Emirates Investment House (EIH) lapsed without an offer. - more

     Batteries improve air quality in underground mines - Next-generation nickel-based technologies and the potential they hold in underground mining - more

     Ex-wife claims $15 billion in world's biggest divorce settlement - A Russian woman has demanded half of her estranged ex-husband's $30 billion fortune in what could become the world's largest divorce settlement. - 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 23

• Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at $4.26/lb . Indicators at 6:10 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.03/lb lower. Stockpiles of nickel store din LME approved warehouses fell on Monday and now total just over the 378,400 tonne level. Stockpiles fell below the level they started the month on Thursday, so the month now shows a negative growth on nickel stockpiles. However, they remain well above April's lowest level. US stainless steel producers published their surcharges yesterday and both 304 and 316 fell, with increased molybdenum costs not enough to offset falling nickel prices for 316 stainless steel. We follow the monthly changes here.
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.17/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - Copper slips on profit-taking after big overnight gain - more

  Reports

• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• Twitter - Commerzbank sees average 2018 copper price forecast at $5,850 per tonne; sees 2018 nickel outlook at $10,400 per tonne
• Current state of the Pacific and Indian oceans - more
• China steel hits nine-week peak amid crackdown, lifts iron ore - more
• European Stocks Gain on Solid Data; Crude Retreats: Markets Wrap - more

     ISSF Stainless Steel In Figures 2017 reports 5.8% CAGR output growth - The ‘Stainless Steel in Figures 2017’ Report released by the International Stainless Steel Federation (ISSF) states that stainless steel production registered compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% over the period from 1950 to 2015, which is significantly higher than other metals. - more

• ISSF launches new publications during ISSF 21 - more

     Stainless Steel production registers a CAGR growth of 5.8% during 1950 to 2015 - The stainless steel production registered compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8 percent over the period from 1950 to 2015, which is significantly higher than other metals, according to the ‘Stainless Steel in Figures 2017’ report released by the International Stainless Steel Federation (ISSF). - more

     BHP eyes reboot for Mt Keith nickel operation - BHP Billiton’s Nickel West division will look to extend the life of its Mt Keith operations, 100km north of Leinster, into the 2030s with the development of the Yakabindie satellite deposit. - more

     Botswana Clash With Billionaires Could Tarnish Its Reputation As Resource Investor's Paradise - At first glance, there is simply no country like it in Africa. Within the continent, Botswana is considered to be the crème de la crème. - more

     First-hand look at Nickel Asia’s open pit mining in Palawan - Open-pit mining remains controversial in the Philippines because of its adverse impact on the environment, but a mining plant and refinery in Bataraza, Puerto Princesa City, says it is pursuing measures to ensure responsible mining. - more

    Ipilan Nickel claims tree cutting operation ‘legal’ - Ipilan Nickel Corp., a subsidiary of Global Ferronickel Inc. , on Monday said its tree-cutting activities within its mining tenement in Palawan is compliant with environmental laws, rules and regulations. - more

     Courtesy AISI - In the week ending on May 20, 2017, domestic raw steel production was 1,741,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 74.7 percent. Production was 1,732,000 net tons in the week ending May 20, 2016 while the capability utilization then was 74.1 percent. The current week production represents a 0.5 percent increase from the same period in the previous year. Production for the week ending May 20, 2017 is up 0.8 percent from the previous week ending May 13, 2017 when production was 1,728,000 net tons and the rate of capability utilization was 74.1 percent. - more

     Spare a nickel? Russian tycoon's ex-wife demands $15bn in final divorce settlement  - The former wife of Russian billionaire and the CEO of Norilsk Nickel Vladimir Potanin has filed a new lawsuit against her ex-husband, demanding 849.5 billion rubles ($15 billion), Forbes reports. - 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 22

• Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at $4.25/lb . Indicators at 6:20 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.02/lb higher. Stockpiles of nickel store in LME approved warehouses fell on both Thursday and Friday and start the week just under the 378,900 tonne level. Cancelled warrants have risen this month and now sit just shy of the 29% reading. While business media seems to be crediting the Chinese pollution crackdown as the reason for the lift in nickel prices, we tend to believe it has more to do with the US Dollar having lost nearly everything its gained against the Euro since the Trump election. The steel crackdown is old news and tends to happen every year about this time. The Trump administration appears to be in trouble and its agenda has been thrown off course by the drama. US and European stainless steel producers announce June surcharges this week, so any lift in cost last week will help them next month. We see 304 stainless steel prices lower next month, with an increase in molybdenum keeping the decrease on 316 in check. Week is starting quietly and unless that changes, we expect nickel pricing to do much the same.
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.16/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - China pollution crackdown lifts steel ingredients zinc, nickel - more

  Reports

• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• Steel Prices Rebound as China Announces New Crackdown on Emissions (May 11) - more
• Duterte stresses PH right over Benham Rise, renames it Philippine Rise - more
• Output Bets Spur Oil; Pound Slips on Brexit Fears: Markets Wrap - more

     Global nickel market swings into small surplus in March-INSG - The global market for refined nickel swung into a small surplus in March after an increase in production outpaced steady global demand, figures from the International Nickel Study Group showed. - more

    Bearish Outlook For Nickel - Nickel prices are falling amid expectations for renewed exports from Indonesia and the Philippines. Brokers observe the outlook for nickel has turned quite bearish. - more

     DENR chief urged to close mining firm in Palawan - As a litmus test to the environment secretary, an environmental group on Friday urged DENR chief Roy Cimatu to close down the Ipilan mining firm for cutting some 15, 000 trees in Palawan province. - more

     Rival bid for BCL against EIH - A second bidder for BCL Group’s assets has emerged to rival an impending proposal from the Emirates Investment House (EIH). - more

     Billionaire Andrew Forrest and family make largest single donation in Australian history - Billionaire Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest and his family will donate $400 million, in the biggest single philanthropic gift by a living person in Australia’s history. - 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 18

• Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at $4.15/lb . Indicators at 6:15 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.06/lb lower. Stockpiles of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Wednesday and now total just over the 379,800 tonne level. Nickel gained yesterday, after news that Vale was shutting a mine down due to low nickel prices. While this particular mine was slatted to close anyway, as it was nearing its end of life, the news sent a glimmer of hope that supply might become strained as prices remained low. Today, those hopes have evaporated in light of what is happening in Washington DC. After last weeks revelation, which one commentator said was like no other, this week has seen three straight days of non stop and stunning drama, making traders nervous about what might come next. Nickel is testing support today at $9000/tonne and at the moment, technical signals remain mostly bearish. This is our last update for the week, so we thank you for spending a few moments of your time with us today and invite you back next week.
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.17/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - Copper tumbles to one-week low on Trump uncertainty - more

  Reports

• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• Nickel Magazine - Battery technology - pdf here
• China iron ore tracks rebar higher on firm steel demand outlook - more
• Flotilla of U.S. crude heads to Asia as OPEC weighs extending cuts - more
• Dow plunges as investors finally concede Trump is not the US economy’s panacea - more
• Global Stocks Fall After U.S. Rout; Dollar Climbs: Markets Wrap - more

     Column -Has China flipped from bull to bear driver for metals pricing? Andy Home - What's happened to the industrial metals complex? - more

     Bearish Outlook For Nickel - Nickel prices are falling amid expectations for renewed exports from Indonesia and the Philippines. Brokers observe the outlook for nickel has turned quite bearish. - more

     Cimatu vows to clean up Laguna de Bay - Newly appointed Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu on Thursday vowed to put priority in protecting water resources including a cleanup of Laguna de Bay. - more

     Palawan town to sue miner for clearing forest - One of the large-scale mining companies operating in Palawan province cut more than 15,000 trees in Brooke’s Point town despite the cancellation of its environmental clearance certificate (ECC) and the absence of permits from the local government, local officials said. - more

     EU Adds Nickel to Restricted List and Strengthens Chemical Safety Under Food Contact Plastics Regulations - The European Union (EU) has published several changes to the ‚Food Contact Plastics’ Regulation. Issued on April 29, 2017, Regulation (EU) 2017/752 adds: - more

     Chamber members hear from candidates - The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce wants to see its member of provincial parliament have a 'business friendly' public policy that will help small business thrive. - more

     Clive Palmer’s friends ‘happy to write me big cheques’ - A cheerful and morphine-free Clive Palmer has boasted about his wealth, claiming he is a collect­or — not seller — of luxury assets, with a slew of rich friends who would write him $100 million cheques on demand. - 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 17

• Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at $4.14/lb . Indicators at 6:20 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb higher. Stockpiles of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose on Tuesday and now total over the 380,300 tonne level. While technical signals are still sending sell signals, buyers aren't in any hurry to oblige this morning. Nickel is up slightly, but activity is light. Vale is shutting a small mine in Canada due to lower ore grades and weakening prices. In Australia, Clive Palmer showed up to court a little healthier than the last week. Market watchers have a weary eye on Washington, as the Presidential drama seems to have no end.
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.17/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - London copper prices steady, China outlook drags - more

  Reports

• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• Tata Steel Q4 preview: Here's what to expect - more
• EU steel market expanded by 3.2% in 2016 - more
• Caution Reigns as U.S. Politics Takes Center Stage: Markets Wrap - more

     Vale to shutter Canadian nickel mine, causing up to 200 job losses - Vale says it will suspend operations at its Birchtree nickel mine in Canada's Manitoba province on Oct. 1 because of weak nickel prices and declining ore grades. - more

     Sagaing nickel refinery employees protest - Employees of a nickel refinery factory in Htigyaing Township, Sagaing Region, protested against their employer on May 16 over the dismissal of a Myanmar national employee. - more

    Nickel Production Outlook for Philippines Steady at 2.4% Until 2021 - BMI Research, the research arm of Fitch Group, has kept its outlook on the country’s nickel ore production at an average of 2.4 percent from 2017 to 2021. - more

• DMCI Holdings still upbeat on 2017 despite mining uncertainty - more

     BCL gets more time for Arab deal - Lawyers representing BCL Ltd provisional liquidator, Nigel Dixon-Warren secured a 30-day extension of the liquidation process at the High Court yesterday. - more

     Zimbabwe: Indian Investor to Inject U.S.$100 Million in Zimalloys - An Indian investor is set to inject $100 million into ferrochrome producer, ZimAlloys under an equity structure secured by judicial manager Grant Thornton and Camelsa. - more

     Clive Palmer fronts Queensland Nickel hearings in better spirits after days of complaints - Clive Palmer was back to his larger-than-life self at the Federal Court in Brisbane today, joking with liquidators, playfully responding to journalists and replacing his now infamous sick bag with a health shake.- more

• Clive Palmer boasts of wealth after attacking cost of legal representation - 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 16

• Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at $4.19/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 rose on Monday and now total just over the 380,200 tonne level. The spurt last Thursday came to an abrupt end yesterday, as nickel fell back below resistance, with all technical signals now flashing sell. The Euro is higher and oil is up, so base metals in general are getting some support today. Miners are trying to sell nickel filled batteries as the next big thing for the nickel industry. And in light of the extra supply that is facing the industry, it needs some new demand outlets quickly. LME nickel inventories have grown every day, less two this month. Stainless steel consumers should be seeing lower prices from earlier this year, with more on the way. Clive Palmer is suffering from pancreatitis, but a judge is making him testify anyway.
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.18/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - London copper slips, traders cut risk as China growth slows - more

  Reports

• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• China steel falls as record output undermines steps to curb excess - more
• Global Steel Industry Skeptical Of Chinese Oath To Push Capacity-Cut Drive - more
• Euro Soars Amid Trump Concerns; Oil Extends Gains: Markets Wrap - more

     Glencore Says Electric Car Boom Is Coming Faster Than Expected - Glencore Plc Chief Executive Officer Ivan Glasenberg said the rise of electric cars will significantly boost demand for minerals including copper and lithium in the coming decades. - more

     Customers Remain Wait-and-see Stance for CR Austenitic Stainless Sheets = In the East Asian region = It is in a state where there is almost no movement of cold-rolled (CR) austenitic stainless steel sheets in the East Asian region. - more

     The Risk of Oversupply Spreads as Indonesia Resumes Nickel Ore Exports - Wariness over policy changes in two major nickel producing countries, Indonesia and the Philippines, is dragging the price of the metal down to 10-month lows. - more

     Despite Warnings, Nickel Ore Cargo Dangers Persist - Despite years of warnings about the risk of cargo liquefaction in shipments of bulk nickel ore, terminals in the Philippines continue to load dangerously wet cargoes, says leading insurer Gard. - more

     Thakadu progresses nickel beneficiation plant plans - Beneficiator Thakadu Battery Materials has taken significant steps forward in its high-purity battery-grade nickel sulphate plant project, which is expected to produce up to 25 000 t/y of high-purity nickel sulphate from South Africa-focused platinum producer Lonmin’s crude nickel sulphate stream. - more

     Botswana proposes debt for equity deal for troubled BCL Mine - Botswana's government has offered its state-owned BCL Mine Ltd to the Emirates Investment House (EIH) for a token price of $1 in a deal that will result in the Emirati firm taking over the mine's debts, minerals minister Sadique Kebonang said. - more

     Courtesy AISI - In the week ending on May 13, 2017, domestic raw steel production was 1,728,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 74.1 percent. Production was 1,732,000 net tons in the week ending May 13, 2016 while the capability utilization then was 74.1 percent. The current week production represents a 0.2 percent decrease from the same period in the previous year. Production for the week ending May 13, 2017 is down 0.5 percent from the previous week ending May 6, 2017 when production was 1,737,000 net tons and the rate of capability utilization was 74.5 percent. - more

      Clive Palmer aide likens forced court appearance to Nazi-era Germany - Former MP arrives at Brisbane federal court holding a sickbag after being compelled to testify about Queensland Nickel collapse - more

• Clive Palmer has history of invoking ‘Nazi Germany’ defence - more
• Palmer claims privilege more than 80 times in court - 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 15

• Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at $4.23/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 both Thursday and Friday and start the week just over the 379,600 tonne level. Nickel prices have done little since they bounced on Thursday afternoon.  Technically, we could see prices increase this week, with nickel closing above resistance twice, but the resistance level was a weak one already, so the market may be giving the signal little significance. The market wants to rise but an Asian commodity analyst from Reuters, Clyde Russell, warned readers last week that the market was facing another over supply situation. For the time, this appears to have taken teh wind out of the bulls sails.
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.18/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - London copper edges up on dollar; China data disappoints - more

  Reports

• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• (SO) CSSEA: China’s stainless steel exports up 0.63 percent in Q1
• Chinese Crude Steel production reaches record high - more
• Iron ore outlook signals a winter of discontent - more
• Oil Jumps With Commodity Currencies on Output Deal: Markets Wrap - more

     Chamber of Mines: No impact on nickel output after closure, suspension orders - Chamber of Mines of the Philippines’ Legal and Policy Vice President Ronald Recidoro said the closure and suspension orders issued against mining operations by former environment secretary Gina Lopez had no impact on the local production of nickel ore. - more

• DMCI hopes to sell out Torre de Manila - more

     Indonesia Set to Produce 4 Million Tons of Nickel - The Industry Ministry is targeting to produce four million tons of nickel by 2020, which is equivalent to 10 percent of the global demand that reaches 40 million tons per year - more

• The trouble with nickel - more

     Mining Companies in Focus: Nickel Producer Vale Indonesia - Although Indonesian nickel miner Vale Indonesia saw its sales rise by 32.4 percent year-on-year (y/y) to USD $143.95 million in the first quarter of 2017 supported by the 24.1 percent (y/y) growth in the (average) nickel matte price in Q1-2017, the company is pessimistic about the direction of the nickel price in the remainder of 2017 as inventory levels remain high on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange. - more

     Ni SUS Scrap Purchase Price in Kanto in May Starts with JPY125,000/130,000 = Pickup price in Western Japan is down by JPY5,000 which is same level as that in Kanto = As of May 1, many of the stainless steel mills in the Kanto area 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. - more

     Glencore's Production Volumes of Ni, Co & FA in Jan-Mar - Last week, Glencore plc announced its production volumes in the period from January to March in 2017, of which the Company's production volumes in the division of ferroalloys (ferro-chrome, vanadium pentoxide, ferro-manganese and silico-manganese), in the division of nickel (nickel, nickel concentrates and ferro-nickel) and in the division of cobalt (including the volume produced from raw materials supplied by the third party) are as shown in the table below. - more

     Govt launches probe on alleged dumping of stainless steel - The Government has launched a preliminary investigation on cold rolled stainless steel (CRSS) imports that originate in, or are exported from, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. - more

     Afarak notes high ferrochrome, chrome ore prices of Q1 not sustainable - Shares in Afarak fell almost 11% as it said warned the high price levels for ferrochrome and chrome ore seen Q1 have not been sustainable over the longer term. - more

     No future for mining beyond 2050 - experts - Currently the mixed structured open economy is largely dependent on mineral revenue mainly from the diamond sector for foreign income generation and the government dominates, coordinates and regulates almost every sector of the middle income economy that Botswana is. - more

     Sumitomo Agrees to Change Shareholding Ratio in Ambatovy = Sumitomo's interest holding ratio goes up to 47.7% =On May 2 (May 1 Canadian time), Sumitomo Corporation made a basic agreement to change the structure among the shareholders in Ambatovy nickel project in Madagascar. - more

     Wynne warns First Nations in Ring of Fire talks - Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne signalled this week to First Nations in the province’s north that she’s willing to abandon joint talks with them over building roads into the Ring of Fire region. - more

• Premier growing frustrated with Ring of Fire talks - more

     All candidates want ferrochrome plant in the Sault - A presentation by NorOnt Resources top brass have created a stir with candidates running in the provincial by election. - more

• Northern Ontario cities try to 'sell' themselves as best place to put Ring of Fire smelter - 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 11

• Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at $4.14/lb . Indicators at 6:20 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.09/lb higher. Stockpiles of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose on Wednesday and now total just over the 381,800 tonne mark. Nickel is higher this morning on short covering and what could turn out to be, a dead cat bounce. We put resistance just under the $4.40/lb level, so if nickel makes it that high, we will see if it has any staying power. The traded price has moved above its 10 day moving average, so traders and trading computers are paying attention. The Palmer soap opera from Australia continues, and could have only gotten better in this weeks episode, had Mr Palmer thrown up on the judge. The question remains - Where in the world is Carmen San... - whoops, sorry - Clive Mensink? Have a safe and relaxing weekend.
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.16/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - Copper hits 1-week high on short-covering, focus on China - more

  Reports

• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• Brunel metal expert picks holes in new pound coin with Sky News - more
• Ontario's best mine rescue squads battling it out in Sudbury - more
• (Tweet) Sumitomo Metal Mining executive says assumes nickel price at $4.75 per pound in fy2017/18, against $4.56 a year earlier
• Europe Stocks Slip as Oil Leads Commodity Rebound: Markets Wrap - more

     Nickel ore oversupply looms, threatening refined prices: Russell - It may be going from bad to worse for the nickel price, with conciliatory comments from the new mining minister in top ore producer the Philippines adding to the risks of the market being pushed into oversupply. - more

     Stainless steel raw material tracker – Apr 2017 - Ferrochrome had a good run in March but as expected, the prices kept falling even more sharply. - more

     Indonesia’s Contribution to Meet Global Nickel Demand by 2020 - Indonesia has set a target to produce four million tons of nickel by 2020 to become one of the world's suppliers of the commodity. - more

     Commodities Declined on Weakening Fundamentals - Commodities declined in April on weakening industrial demand expectations out of China and increasing US crude inventories, according to Credit Suisse Asset Management. - more

     Ni SUS Scrap Purchase Price in Kanto in May Starts with JPY125,000/130,000 = Pickup price in Western Japan is down by JPY5,000 which is same level as that in Kanto = As of May 1, many of the stainless steel mills in the Kanto area 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. - more

     Sudbury in running for ferrochrome plant - At least four communities -- including Greater Sudbury -- are in the running to host a $1-billion ferrochrome facility to process ore from the Ring of Fire located in northwestern Ontario. - more

• What is ferrochrome? - more

     Clive Palmer claims strong painkillers affected his memory in court testimony - Clive Palmer seems to be having a rough trot of late. - more

     LME's Q1 2017 trading volume down 1.5% on year; quarter-end open interest slips 4.6% - Total trading volume on the London Metal Exchange was 38.86 million lots in first-quarter 2017 (January-March), inching 1.5% down from the same quarter in 2016, LME's parent company Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing said 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 10

• Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at $4.18/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 on Tuesday and started the day just shy of the 381,400 tonne level. Nickel appears to be readying another attempt at the $9300/tonne level today, which rejected an earlier attempt to breech it. We don't see technical resistance until around $9500/tonne so this could be a psychological point. With fundamentals sending a bearish signal this week, with the appointment of a pro mining minister in the Philippines, the positive run over the last few days could be buyers taking advantage of some very low prices. The news is good for Philippine miners, but not so much for the other world miners, as the threat of less supply from that island could have helped boost prices elsewhere. LME nickel stockpiles have grown every day this month, so surviving miners could use a little less supply. The news from China is bearish as well, with their stock market losing for a sixth day, the first time that has happened in four years. Damstahl published their monthly report - one of the best free monthly reports out there. New Caledonia is no longer under the threat of a typhoon.  
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.16/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - Copper vulnerable, signs of weak China demand weigh - more

  Reports

• Damstahl Stainless Steel Report - May 2017 - more
• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• (SO)  CSSEA: China’s crude stainless steel output up 19.38 percent in Q1
• U.S. to impose anti-dumping tariffs on Taiwan steel makers - more
• Models reduce likelihood of El Niño for 2017 but tropical Pacific Ocean warmer than average - more
• The China steel market is pointing to big problems for iron ore - more
• Goldman Sachs: Why the commodities rally might be different this time - more
• Tesla battery researcher says they doubled lifetime of batteries in Tesla’s products 4 years ahead of time - more
• Stocks Edge Lower as Dollar Stalls; Oil Advances: Markets Wrap - more

     Philippines' Duterte says mining law to stay, as new minister takes over - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday the government cannot scrap an existing mining law, suggesting he is open to easing up on a crackdown launched by a dismissed minister who ordered the closure of half the country's mines. - more

     Philippines Q1 nickel ore output falls 51 pct on rains, crackdown - Nickel ore output in the Philippines, the world's top supplier, fell 51 percent in the first quarter due to rains and the suspension of mine operations, government data showed on Wednesday - more

     The commodity conundrum — why are prices so weak? - While it is accepted wisdom that energy is the most important commodity complex, representing more than 80% of the dollar volume of trading in commodity markets, there are dozens of important raw materials and soft commodities that also serve as important barometers of the global economy. - more

     Norilsk Nickel lawsuit against Botswana undeterred by potential deal - Norilsk Nickel Africa will press ahead with a lawsuit against Botswana over a failed $271 million deal to sell a 50 percent stake in its Nkomati Nickel Mine even though the government is still trying to raise the funds, its chief executive has told Reuters. - more

     Market Trend of Import of Ferroalloy as of 28 April 2017 = Chinese market rebounds in final week of April because Ministry of Environmental Protection begins inspection = In the final week of April, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) began a one-month inspection in a total of 7 provinces and cities such as Tianjin, Shanxi, Liaoning, Anhui, Fujian, Hunan and Guizhou. - more

     Tough times ahead for Odisha metal industries as state doubles energy duty - The Odisha government’s move to double the electricity duty for captive power plants from 30 paise per unit to 60 paise per unit is likely to hit all power intensive metal processing industries in the state hard. - more

     Ex-cyclone moves away from New Caledonia - Cyclone Donna has weakened to a tropical low, with its centre moving away from New Caledonia. - more

     Clive Palmer testifies on nephew's disappearance, 'has memory loss due to morphine' - An ill-looking and out-of-breath Clive Palmer has told a court he paid for two luxury cruises for his nephew Clive Mensink, who has an outstanding warrant for his arrest for failing to appear over Queensland Nickel's collapse. - more

• Clive Palmer clutches vomit bag as court grills him over nephew's whereabouts - more
• Palmer in court - with sick bag and ventilator - 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 9

• Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at $4.15/lb . Indicators at 6:15 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.04/lb higher. Stockpiles of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose slightly on Monday and now total just over the 380,700 tonne level. As far as nickel trading went yesterday, traders could have taken a holiday and accomplished about as much. Nickel ended $5 a tonne higher, and stockpiles rose by 6 tonnes. Not exactly a busy day. Commodities are trading higher this morning, but without much enthusiasm. Support at $4.11/lb appears to be holding., after being tested on Friday. I suspect the markets are more than a little nervous about that $4.04/lb that nickel fell to on Friday and do not want to see nickel trading in the $3/lb range ever again. We have a new Environmental Minister in the Philippines, a hurricane threatening New Caledonia, and more drama in the Australian Palmer soap opera.
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.15/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - Copper edges up after steep losses on worries over China - more

  Reports

• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• (ipath) Downward trend on Nickel Marketbeta - down -17.65% in 2 months
• Dollar Advance Saps Commodity Gain; Stocks Rise: Markets Wrap - more

     New Philippines environment minister says possible to balance mining, nature - The Philippines' new environment minister said it was possible to strike a balance between mining and protecting natural resources, but added that he needed time to assess mine closures ordered by his dismissed predecessor. - more

• Will Filipino Mining Realise Its Potential? - more
• Ledesma: Gina is mine alone - more

     Clive Palmer ordered to attend Queensland Nickel hearings amid pancreatitis recovery - Clive Palmer is recovering from a severe case of pancreatitis which his legal team said prevented him from giving evidence to the Federal Court today, but a judge has ordered him to attend tomorrow. - more

• Clive Palmer a no-show at Obama dinner despite protestations - more
• Clive Palmer calls in sick to Federal Court - more

     Gimme smelter - It’s time to get political about the Ring of Fire. - more

    Eskom puts pressure on ZESA payments - Zimbabwe has been warned that if they do not adhere to their payment obligation, Eskom will cut supply come end of May. - more

     New Caledonia braces for Cyclone Donna - Power has been cut in parts of New Caledonia as Cyclone Donna passes near the Loyalty Islands. - more

     Courtesy AISI - In the week ending on May 6, 2017, domestic raw steel production was 1,737,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 74.5 percent. Production was 1,732,000 net tons in the week ending May 6, 2016 while the capability utilization then was 74.1 percent. The current week production represents a 0.3 percent increase from the same period in the previous year. Production for the week ending May 6, 2017 is down 0.7 percent from the previous week ending April 29, 2017 when production was 1,750,000 net tons and the rate of capability utilization was 75.1 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 8

• Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at $4.15/lb . Indicators at 6:20 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.02/lb lower. Stockpiles of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose on Thursday and were unchanged on Friday and start the week just over the 380,700 tonne level. Nickel recovered a little late Friday after falling to a 2017 low of $4.04/lb earlier in the session. This was part of an overall bounce in commodities and the Euro and had nothing to do with any fundamental change in nickel itself. That reality is returning today and nickel is floundering, as are most base metals. Support remains at $4.11/lb and the market doesn't appear to want to test this today - but that could change. Philippine media is reporting President Duterte has appointed former army general and ambassador Roy Cimatu to the post of Environmental Minister. The Philippine mining industry has welcomed the news, and after the disastrous last eleven months under Lopez, we expect news out of that region will soon fall from headline status.
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.16/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning -  Copper hits 4-month low as China imports slide - more

  Reports

• U.S. Exports of Stainless Steel Mill Products - more
• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• Chinese Steel exports plunge by 29% y/y during April - more
• China's iron ore imports slump as port stocks build - more
• Euro Slips With Stocks After Macron's Expected Win: Markets Wrap - more

     Philippines Duterte names ex-army general as environment minister - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed a former military man as the new environment minister after Congress dismissed his first choice, who ordered the closure of more than half of the mines in the world's top nickel ore supplier. - more

• Miners deny hand in lawmakers’ decision on Lopez - more
• The CA is now the public face of rotten politics - more
• P109m lost in rebel raid on mining firm - more

     Commodities Slump Fueled by Softening Demand From China - A global commodities slump deepened Friday, with oil and iron ore hitting their lowest levels since November on continuing worries about an excess of world-wide supply, as well as concerns over weakening demand in the key China market. - more

     Eskom to cut power supplies to Zimbabwe - South African power utility, Eskom, has given Zesa Holdings until the end of this month to clear its debt of $43 million, failure of which it threatens to cut 300 megawatts from the amount it is supplying Zimbabwe per day, raising fears of load-shedding. - more

     New Caledonians take shelter as Cyclone Donna bears down -  A cyclone bearing down on New Caledonia in the South Pacific was upgraded on Monday to a category five storm, the most destructive wind-speed level, prompting local authorities to order people to stay indoors and take shelter. - more

     AIIS Steel Market Update- April 2017 - Economic growth slowed to a crawl during the first quarter, with gross domestic product (GDP) increasing by just 0.7 percent. - more

• AIIS March 2017 Steel Imports Press Release - more

     Low nickel prices must recover for Yabulu to reopen - Hopes of a new operator buying or restarting Yabulu nickel refinery look slim with the metal’s prices continuing to languish around $US4 a pound, marginally higher than when the plant fell into administration and closed last year. - more

     Nickel Asia swings to profit in Q1 on higher shipments, prices - Listed mining firm Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) swung to a profit in the first quarter of this year from a loss in the same period last year on the combined effects of shipments of higher-value saprolite ore from its Rio Tuba and Taganito mines this quarter, coupled with higher prices and a stronger US dollar. - more

     Russian nickel copper sulphide project begins industry low cost drilling phase - Russian nickel copper sulphide project begins "lowest priced" drilling phase in mineral resource industry - more

     Chinese submersible discovers polymetallic nodules in SCS - "Learning the distribution of polymetallic nodules will help us to choose a site for experimenting with collection, which is one of the main goals of the mission," Wu Changbin, general commander of the second stage of the expedition said - more

• How Electrified Steel Could Suck Toxic Metals From the Ocean - 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 4

• Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at $4.19/lb . Indicators at 6:20 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.08/lb lower. Stockpiles of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose slightly on Wednesday and now total just over the 380,500 tonne level. If you look up swan dive in the dictionary, you might find the best description of how the market is reacting to the news from the Philippines that Lopez is out. To be fair, the commodity crash is happening across the board, so the Lopez news is just adding fuel to an already bearish mood sweeping across markets. Nickel is now trading at a eleven month low and closing in on key support at $4.10/lb. 'Gina' Lopez became President Duterte's second cabinet pick to be rejected by that country's Congress, and in our opinion, can only blame herself. When you take on big business in a personal crusade, you better have a lot of support in your back pocket, and a whole lot more than she had. President Duterte, the outspoken leader in the Philippines, who once referred to Philippine miners as "sons of whores", received the news of Lopez's rejection with unusual silence, with his spokesman advising the President was accepting the news and already seeking a replacement. Maybe her war on miners had turned her into such a polarizing figure, that even he had grown tired of her stealing the headlines. In the mean time, this is bad news for nickel miners, who are watching profit margins take another beating. Stainless steel producers, who may see higher profit margins in the short term, now have to play the cat and mouse game in a volatile market, on when to buy nickel, with a poorly times decision potentially costing a buyer hundreds of thousands of dollars. Any justification for recent price increases in stainless steel product, are fast disappearing. Have a safe and relaxing weekend.
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.26/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - Copper slides further after biggest one-day loss in 20 months - more

  Reports

• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• Chinese Steel Companies Register Highest Quarterly Profits of Decade - more
• Upbeat Earnings Lift Europe as Dollar Heads Down: Markets Wrap - more

     Metals Extend Sell-Off as Mining Shares Decline, Iron Ore Slumps - Metals extended their biggest daily plunge this year, buffeted by signs of ample supplies of copper, concern over the outlook for demand in China and a stronger dollar. - more

• Trump's Commodities Rally Is Almost Gone - more

     Mining firm files graft complaint vs Gina - A mining company yesterday filed before the Office of the Ombudsman a graft complaint against Environment Secretary Gina Lopez for allegedly using her position to impose additional requirements on the firm that she had suspended for violating mining laws. - more

• Ejercito chides CA members with mining interests who did not inhibit from Lopez vote - more
• Second review of Philippine mines to go ahead - finance official - more
• Lacson explains 'no' vote for Gina Lopez - more

     Arabs offer to buy ‘disputed’ Nkomati stake - The Emirates Investment House (EIH) this week extended their due diligence on BCL assets to Nkomati Mine after getting the greenlight from Russia’s Norilsk Nickel, Minister of Minerals, Energy Security and Green Technology Sadique Kebonang said yesterday. - more

     US Steel Import Permits Declined 2% in April - 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 April this year totaled 3,433,000 net tons (NT) of steel. - more

     Russia's Norilsk Nickel to invest $14 mln into machinery upgrade of Arctic mine - Russian mining and metals company Norilsk Nickel will allocate 800 mln rubles ($14 mln) to acquire new machinery for Severny Mine of its affiliate Kola GMK in the Murmansk Region, press service of Kola GMK told TASS 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 3

• Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at $4.32/lb . Indicators at 6:30 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.10/lb lower. Stockpiles of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose on Tuesday and now stand just under the 380,500 tonne level. Stunning news from the Philippines has taken the market by storm, with nickel falling sharply on news that Gina Lopez is out as Duterte's Environmental Minister. Nickel bulls can not get a break this year, and the bears appear to be firmly in control. We have linked to numerous stories below about the Lopez rejection, which happened a few hours ago. She had moxie, but she lost the battle to the mining industry. It remains to be seen whether the noise she made in the past year will last beyond her tenure.  
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.30/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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - London copper falls as dollar firms on rate rise potential - more

  Reports

• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• EU steel market: Greater stability at the start of 2017 - EUROFER urges caution - more
• European Stocks Decline, Dollar Climbs Before Fed: Markets Wrap - more

     Philippine Congress Rejects Appointee Who Ordered Mines Shut - The Philippine Congress has rejected the appointment of the country's acting environment chief, who ordered the closure and suspension of dozens of mines she says harm the environment and residents. - more

• Duterte's controversial environment secretary out after Senate rejects appointment - more
• Gina Lopez says CA vote was influenced by biz interests - more
• Philippine environment chief dumped as miners triumph - more
• Nickel shriek turns to shrug as Philippines dithers on audit - more
• Listed mining firms buck order vs open-pit operations - more
• Miners say agony over with Gina Lopez's rejection - more
• Gina Lopez: Business interests ran the day - more

     Nickel falls from grace as bull narrative unravels: Andy Home - Nickel has gone from bull hero to zero in the space of just a couple of months. - more

     US stainless sheet transaction prices soften on lower surcharges - Despite base prices holding firm, US cold-rolled stainless sheet transaction prices dipped slightly to start May as raw material surcharges softened from April levels, sources said Monday. - more

     SAIL plans to double steel exports to 1.6 mt in FY18 - Buoyed by a three-fold rise in exports in 2016-17 over the previous fiscal year, state-run Steel Authority of India (SAIL) is hoping to more than double its outward shipment to 1.6 million tonne. - more

     Munali mine to resume operations - Consolidated Nickel Mine Limited is soon expected to finalise the raising of capital to restart production of nickel by the end of the year at its subsidiary, Munali Nickel Mine in Mazabuka. - more

     Emirati firm eyes mine disputed by Botswana, Norilsk Nickel - Botswana hopes to end a lawsuit with Russia's Norilsk Nickel by helping Emirates Investment House (EIH) buy a disputed 50 percent stake in the Nkomati nickel mine in South Africa, a government minister said on Tuesday. - more

     Antam Investors Upbeat as Nickel Ore Exports Resume - State-owned Indonesian mining company Aneka Tambang is looking to improve sales with the resumption of nickel ore exports this month after a three-year ban. - more

     Govt restructures chrome mining sector - The Government is restructuring the chrome mining sector to enable small-scale miners to drive the exploitation of the mineral, a Cabinet Minister said. - more

     Outokumpu supplies stainless steel for China Resources’ innovative skyscraper in Shenzhen - Outokumpu has provided 1,000 metric tonnes of Supra 316L/4404 stainless steel for the China Resources Group headquarters in mainland China. - more

     Fateful conversation on day of Sudbury tragedy - Trevor Gosselin says he remembers the conversation that probably saved his life like it happened yesterday. - more

     73,000-pound falcon statue in place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Workers install a 73,000-pound stainless steel sculpture of a falcon outside Mercedes-Benz stadium Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Atlanta. - 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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, May 2

• Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at $4.29/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 on Thursday and fell on Friday to start the new month just under the 379,200 tonne level. LME markets, as well as most of the rest of the world, were closed on Monday for the Mayday holiday. The news that Lopez had banned open pit mining in the Philippines finally hit the markets after we published Thursday and nickel has been trading higher ever since. At the moment, it is struggling with minor technical resistance at $4.31/lb, but appears to have enough gas to push thru this. Tomorrow's scheduled confirmation hearings in the Philippines could add a little 'punch' to the market, as DENR head Regina Lopez faces off against an industry her boss refers to "sons of whores". The average price of cash nickel ended $.01/lb lower than it did in March and its lowest for 2017. The average price of $4.39/lb was only $.03/lb higher than cash nickel averaged all of 2016. Could be an interesting week as nickel starts a new month with some positive momentum. How long will it last this time around?
• Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $4.39/lb (final April 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
• Baltic Dry Index - (current) (chart)
• Dollar trading graph - (chart of dollar index)
• Reuters metals morning - Potential supply disruptions fuel copper's rise to 3-week high - more

  Reports

• Damstahl Stainless Steel Report - April 2017 - pdf here
• Reuters Daily Inside Metals - pdf here
• KBC Commodity Report - here
• Angel Metals Fundamental Report - here

  Commodity/Economic Comments

• China Stainless Steel Scrap Market News / Price - more
• Yieh Daily Asian Stainless Steel News - more
• Gerdau Steel Market Update - more
• European Debt Crisis Live - more
• Alloyed for Lasting Value video - here
• Self Repairing for Lasting Value video - here
• 65 Things You Might Not Know About Steel - more
• Material Matters: Iron Ore And Base Metals - more
• (SO) China's steel sector PMI decreases to 49.1 percent in April
• Global Stocks Climb Amid Earnings as Yen Weakens: Markets Wrap - more

     Nickel Prices: Trading Quiet Following Commodity’s Fall to 10-Month Low - Nickel trading was quiet Friday, with the metal holding fractionally lower on lighter trading volume. - more

     Indonesian miner Antam to resume nickel ore exports this month - Indonesia's state-controlled miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) will resume exports of nickel ore this month, with an initial shipment of 150,000 tonnes expected to leave for China in early May, a company executive said on Tuesday. - more

     Nickel producer Nornickel to sue Botswana government - The world's leading nickel producer, Nornickel is taking a legal action against the Botswana government over its failed sale of Tati mine in Botswana and the Nkomati mine in South Africa to the State Enterprise, BCL Mine, said Nornickel on Friday in Johannesburg. - more

     Brazil starts antidumping investigation on austenitic Stainless Steel - ...Against the austenitic stainless tube imports from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, the Brazil government has started an antidumping investigation. - more

     Philippines Moves to Shut Mines Accused of Polluting - And on Thursday, she said she would soon issue an order banning open-pit mines, calling the pollution of rivers with heavy metals “a perpetual liability.” - more

• DENR partners with more mining firms for livelihood program - more
• Philippine mining’s negative net worth - more

     Chrome price boom creates scramble for claims - A boom in the international price of chrome has seen foreign companies scrambling for chrome claims in the country, Standard Business has learnt. - more

     Sherritt gives partners larger stake in Madagascar nickel mine for debt relief - Sumitomo and Korea Resources will get a larger stake in the Ambatovy nickel project in Madagascar under a debt restructuring agreement with partner Sherritt International. - more

     Outokumpu expects Q2 profit to be slightly weaker than Q1 - Finnish stainless steel producer Outokumpu said it expects current quarter profit to be "somewhat" below first-quarter levels due to lower ferrochrome prices and deliveries. - more

     Zimbabwe: Govt Demands 1 000ha From Zimasco - Zimasco is to release a further 1 000 hectares (ha) of chrome claims to government after failing to comply with a State directive last year to cede half of its 49 000ha resource to the State, official reports indicated this week. - more

     Nickel miner Vale Indonesia scores higher Q1 yoy sales - Nickel miner PT Vale Indonesia recorded a US$143.9 million sales value in the first quarter of the year, 32 percent higher than in the same period last year. - more

     Land stir hurts investments in Tata Steel's Gopalpur industrial park - Sporadic protests by land losers and project affected people are impeding the flow of investments to Tata Steel's industrial park at Gopalpur. - more

     Courtesy AISI - In the week ending on April 29, 2017, domestic raw steel production was 1,750,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 75.1 percent. Production was 1,698,000 net tons in the week ending April 29, 2016 while the capability utilization then was 72.6 percent. The current week production represents a 3.1 percent increase from the same period in the previous year. Production for the week ending April 29, 2017 is up 2.0 percent from the previous week ending April 22, 2017 when production was 1,715,000 net tons and the rate of capability utilization was 73.6 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)
• India MCX Nickel Price - more  more
• 100 Years of Stainless Steel Video - online here
• 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

April Archives

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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 - Disclaimer Original 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.