This report provides detailed analysis on the bulk and specialty alloys markets, the latest developments in the carbon and specialty steel sectors and extensive coverage of issues effecting global trading conditions. A concise summary of market conditions for individual ferro-alloy markets, together with analysis of the latest market indicators also features.
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03 March 2010
Chinese ferro-chrome prices are moving up supported by both better demand from stainless steel and higher chrome ore prices. Chrome ore spot prices have moved up sharply over the week as ferro-chrome producers are telling MBR that stocks of ore are low.
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26 February 2010
Over the course of this month we have seen EU silico-manganese market move up to almost €1,000/tonne on strengthening demand and a stronger dollar.
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26 February 2010
The strengthening dollar has prompted an increase in local currency prices, though dollar-denominated prices have shown little change, and has prompted foreign enquiries for European material from North America, but dealers report that European suppliers have virtually nothing to spare.
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26 February 2010
The Indian silicon metal market has been quiet, with very few imports, and deals have drifted to virtually nothing in the run-up to the holiday period in its chief supplier, China.
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26 February 2010
In South Africa, miner and alloys producer Assmang has said it will convert its number five furnace at its Machadodorp plant to high-carbon ferro-manganese output from ferro-chrome output.
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26 February 2010
We have said in previous months that we believe that ferro-chrome producers will be calling for a significant increase on second-quarter charge chrome contract prices in response to increasing production costs.
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26 February 2010
The bullish market conditions already noted above have been further exacerbated in the USA by severe weather on the East Coast in recent weeks.
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26 February 2010
We have been told that prices were increasing throughout week and deals were made as high as $16/lb. Once again we were hearing about more transactions coming from inter-trade business. However with such little material available even with transactions being made, orders were not being fulfilled.
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26 February 2010
The Chinese vanadium market was subdued this past month amid the Chinese holidays. Many steel mills and ferro-alloy producers have gone on holiday and consequently transactions have slowed and prices have tailed off.
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26 February 2010
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01 March 2010
Chinese silicon metal exports hit a recent-year low in 2009 as the world financial crisis hit aluminium demand. The imposition of a 15% export duty by the Chinese government also impeded exports. China’s silicon metal exports slumped nearly 40% year-on-year in 2009.
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02 March 2010
Ukraine boosted ferro-alloys production 280% year-on-year to more than 122,000 tonnes in January.Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Interdepartmental Commission on International Trade is to investigate imports of some ferro-alloys products after complaints from its domestic industry. Elsewhere, China’s Chongqing Fubang Manganese has signed a co-operation agreement with the local government of Fengjie County in Chongqing province for the construction of a major manganese producing facility.