February 26, 2024

Nickel industry to receive tax credit relief

The Australian Federal Government is expediting the introduction of production tax credits to support the nickel mining sector. This strategic decision aims to provide support to navigate what is viewed as a temporary challenge in a critically important industry.  (Source: Proactive investors)

February 25, 2024

The Red Sea shipping crisis

It is reported that global trade has declined by 1.3% in just one month, from November to December 2023 since the attacks on the Red Sea began. The Red Sea serves an important role in the global economy as the canal reduces the shipping distance between Asia and Europe by almost half.  (Source: Reuters)

January 24, 2024

Nickel prices bottomed out despite a global ris...

Last week witnessed a bottoming out of nickel prices, with an uptick observed during the evening session on January 10. The prices surged by approximately 3.24%, concluding at 129,420 yuan/mt by the close on January 12. The widening price gap between nickel sulphate and pure nickel was primarily driven by the increase in nickel prices, […]

January 24, 2024

Stainless steel melt shop production up in firs...

The World Stainless Association has published data for the initial nine months of 2023, revealing a 2.5% year-on-year growth in stainless steel melt shop production, reaching 42.6 million metric tons. (Source: worldstainless)

December 26, 2023

UK plans to impose carbon levy in 2027 to level...

The UK government has proposed implementing a carbon levy on certain carbon-intensive products, including iron, steel, aluminum, ceramics, and cement, starting in2027. This measure aims to safeguard domestic industries from the effects of inexpensiveimports originating from countries with less stringent climate policies. The goal is tomitigate the risk of carbon leakage and establish equitable conditions […]

December 26, 2023

Modular construction with stainless steel

Modular construction approach provides a substantial decrease in both cost andconstruction time compared to traditional methods. For instance, a construction timelinethat originally took 12 months can now be shortened to just 12 weeks or even less. It alsoenables a reconsideration of material selection, allowing for better utilization of resilientmaterials. This results in a notable decrease […]

November 27, 2023

EEC suggests raising AD duty on China’s and Mal...

The EEC has announced results of an anti-dumping review on cold-formed stainless steel seamless pipes from China and Malaysia. Plans include extending current measures for five more years, with an AD margin of 29.39% and a proposed increase in the current 19.15% AD duty rate. (Source:Yieh)

November 27, 2023

High-grade NPI might soon become more cost-effe...

Although high-grade Nickel Pig Iron (NPI) is currently less cost-effective than scrap, recent price declines suggest improved cost performance, with expectations of surpassing scrap stainless steel in the short term. (Source: Shanghai Metals Market)

October 24, 2023

Nickel inventories up 43,800 wmt WoW at Chinese...

As of October 20, port inventories of nickel ore in China stood at 9.511 million wet metric tonnes (wmt), up 43,800 wmt week on week (WoW). This is still in a peak period of nickel ore shipments, and the accumulated nickel ore inventory is generally in line with expectations. (Source: Shanghai Metals Market)

October 24, 2023

EU begins the first phase of world’s first carb...

In a move to supposedly control the entry of polluting products from undermining its green transition, the European Union (EU) launched the first phase of the world’s first system to impose carbon emission tariffs on various products such as imported steel, cement and other goods. From 2026, the importers will need to purchase certificates to […]

September 28, 2023

US sets 0% dumping margin for India’s stainless...

The US Department of Commerce (USDOC) announced the final result after the review of the anti-dumping (AD) duty order on stainless steel bars from India, finding that the subject products were not sold at prices less than normal value by Indian steelmakers during the period of review from February 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022. […]

September 27, 2023

LME nickel price strengthens recently to suppor...

In the past week, the LME nickel price has risen by 1% and continued to increase in the past half month, supporting the current stainless steel price. Market participants said that stainless steel manufacturers are concerned about the supply of ferro nickel raw materials, as the Indonesian government’s export policy is vacillating. At present, the […]

August 19, 2023

EU begins anti-circumvention probes on stainles...

The European Commission has launched an inquiry into potential efforts to evade the anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) applied to stainless steel cold-rolled flat goods that come from Indonesia. This investigation includes imports from Taiwan, Turkey, and Vietnam, whether they are labelled as originating from these countries or not.  (Source: Yieh Corp.)

August 18, 2023

Small, medium stainless steel firms severely im...

According to President, Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA), Mr Rajamani Krishnamurti, many of India’s micro, small, and medium enterprises in the stainless steel ecosystem are severely impacted due to the excessive dumping from China. Due to this, 25% of the MSMEs in the stainless steel space in India are shutting down.  (Source: Blomberg Quint)

July 23, 2023

Global crude stainless steel production falls i...

According to World Stainless Association, global crude stainless steel production in the first quarter of this year amounted to approximately 13.67 million tonnes, showing a 5% decline compared to the same period last year. China’s production constituted 60.5% of the total production, reaching 8.27 million tonnes, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 4.1%. (Source: Yieh Corp.)

July 22, 2023

EU issues an anti-dumping ruling on China’s ref...

The EU has made a final anti-dumping ruling on refillable stainless steel barrels originating from China. The ruling states that the products in question will be subjected to an anti-dumping duty ranging from 62.6% to 69.6%. (Source: Shanghai Metals Market)

June 22, 2023

UK removes CVD on Indian stainless steel

The UK Government has reached an agreement with the recommendation of the TRA (Trade Remedies Authority) to revoke the countervailing measure imposed on imports of stainless steel bars and rods from India. Based on their findings, the TRA concluded that even if the countervailing measure was removed, subsidized imports would still persist. However, they concluded […]

June 21, 2023

LME receives first request to list new nickel b...

The London Metal Exchange (LME) announced that it has received its initial application to approve a fresh nickel brand for use in its nickel contract. This marks the first application received since the LME reduced the waiting time for listing from six to nine months to just three months back in March.  (Source: Reuters)

May 24, 2023

May’s high-carbon ferrochrome price outlook

The Shanghai Metals Market predicts an upward trend in the prices of high-carbon ferrochrome, with retail prices expected to range between 9,000-9,300 yuan/mt (Cr50%). This rise is attributed to a significant increase in stainless steel production, projected to reach 3.15 million mt, thereby driving up the demand for ferrochrome. Initially, there were expectations of Tsingshan […]

May 22, 2023

Indonesia reduces tax breaks to deter low-quali...

A cabinet minister revealed that Indonesia has implemented tax incentive reductions to curtail investments in lower-quality nickel products. This strategic move aligns with the country’s objective of maximizing the value derived from its abundant nickel reserves and promoting increased downstream investment. In pursuit of these goals, the Indonesian government aims to attract approximately $95 billion […]

April 24, 2023

EU prolongs its tariffs on stainless steel impo...

The European Commission announced that it has prolonged anti-dumping tariffs on stainless steel fittings from China and Taiwan for another five years. The Commission also extended these tariffs to Malaysia, as its investigation found that Chinese producers were using assembly operations there to evade applicable tariffs. The review concluded that lifting the tariffs would have […]

April 23, 2023

March witnesses a minor decline in high-carbon ...

In March, the production costs of high-carbon ferrochrome experienced a slight decline. By mid-April, the real-time costs of raw materials in Inner Mongolia had dropped to 8,929 yuan/mt (Cr50%), which is down 198 yuan/mt (Cr50%) or 2% on a monthly basis. Although power tariffs in south China remained relatively stable, those in western Mongolia decreased […]

March 23, 2023

EU proposes to tag Copper and Nickel as critica...

The Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) unveiled by the European Union has identified Copper and Nickel as critical metals. This will ensure speedier permits and easier access to capital. The EU had previously focused on more niche materials such as cobalt, lithium, and rare earths.   (Source: Bloomberg)

March 23, 2023

Benchmark prices for EU ferrochrome rise substa...

Q2 of 2023 witnessed a significant rise of more than 15% in the benchmark prices of EU ferrochrome, the key stainless steel raw material. The prices of ferrochrome have risen sharply since the end of 2020. It is important for the composition of the 200, 300, and 400 stainless steel series.  (Source: SteelNews.biz)

February 27, 2023

Prices of High-Carbon Ferrochrome rise in Jan

The prices of high-carbon ferrochrome witnessed a slight uptick in the month of January. The average price added about 600 yuan/mt in January. As many stainless steel firms were under maintenance in China, the stainless steel output fell to a great extent. Also, as the truck transportation services were suspended due to the approaching CNY […]

February 27, 2023

Indonesia faces a slash in stainless steel expo...

After imposing an anti-subsidy duty of 21% on imports of stainless steel cold-rolled flat products from Indonesia, the exports by Indonesia to the EU has dropped drastically. According to Indonesia, the EU policy is not in line with WTO rules. (Source: Reuters)

January 27, 2023

India to initiate trade talks with EU around st...

After reinitiating negotiations for a free trade agreement that had started more than 15 years ago between India and the EU, the Indian government will reportedly request that the EU ease its steel import quotas. India is also expected to express New Delhi’s concerns over EU countries’ proposed carbon dioxide emissions tariff on imports of […]

January 27, 2023

Spot transactions of stainless steel stagnate, ...

Fluctuations in the ss contract were witnessed within a wide range as compared to its spot prices which remained stable in the last week of January. Stainless steel supply and demand both may increase after the Chinese New Year holiday. According to Shanghai Metals Market, the future prices of stainless steel will climb with respect […]

December 26, 2022

Export of stainless steel to India sets a new r...

The exports to India, the largest importer of China’s stainless steel, set a new record in November with a month-on-month increase of 57%. China exported total 478, 900 million tonnes of stainless steel to other countries in November, an increase of 28% month-on-month basis. Export to Asian countries recorded an increase in November.  (Source: Shanghai […]

December 26, 2022

Anti-dumping duty levied on stainless steel tub...

The Indian government has levied anti-dumping duty on stainless steel and pipe imports from China for five years in order to protect the domestic industry from cheap Chinese imports. Anti-dumping measures ensure a level-playing field for the domestic industry. They do not restrict the imports of other products.   (Source: Reuters)

November 28, 2022

Weaker cost support for stainless steel prices ...

The total output of stainless steel is expected to rise slightly in November as most of the steel mills cautiously make their production scheduling plans. Most terminal companies have restocked some raw materials to purchase on rigid demand in the month. Thus, stainless steel may get weaker cost support. (Source: Shanghai Metals Market)

November 27, 2022

Indonesia bans export and refining of nickel mi...

Recently, Indonesia banned the export and refining of nickel minerals. The World Trade Organization (WTO) stated that this move violated the provisions of the WTO Article X1.1 GATT 1994.  In response to WTO’s verdict, Indonesia has decided to appeal against it. The final decision will be announced by the end of November. (Source: TEMPO.CO)

October 28, 2022

Amidst a steady demand in September, clearance ...

As per the customs data, China imported 9,859 mt of refined nickel in September 2022, down 17.56% month-on-month (MoM) and 72.21% year-on-year (YoY). Russia remained the major supplier of pure nickel with 3,363 MT as Australia and Canada supplied 2,386 MT, and 811 MT respectively. (Source: Shanghai Metals Market)

October 28, 2022

Spot stainless steel prices rise rapidly in the...

The spot prices of #304 stainless steel rose sharply following the soaring futures prices. This was because of the tight spot supply of various raw materials and their high prices. The steel mills’ shipments to the market also witnessed a slowdown on the supply side. The demand, however, remained rigid owing to the large engineering […]

September 26, 2022

Is India set to replace Europe and the US to be...

While on one hand, the total export volume of stainless steel to Europe by China has decreased since June and July by over 10 %, this number has increased in the case of India. In addition to the European and American markets, India is now the second largest export market of stainless steel for China. […]

September 26, 2022

European stainless steel mills closing due to e...

Due to skyrocketing energy prices and weaker demands, many European stainless steel companies are scaling back or shutting down their production. This crisis began when Russia shut down a big gas pipeline indefinitely. In response to the sanctions that the European countries have imposed on Russia due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine, Russia is using its […]

August 28, 2022

Indonesia may impose export tax on nickel 

Indonesia, the world’s largest and fastest-growing producer of nickel, is planning to impose an export tax on nickel. The country is doing so since it wants to add more value locally to increase its state revenues and provide more employment opportunities within the country.  (Source: Shanghai Metals Market)

August 28, 2022

Weak demand and surplus supply in China lead to...

China’s high-carbon ferrochrome output China’s high-carbon ferrochrome output fell by 19,900 mt on the month and up 148,200 mt or 35.94% on the year to 560,600 mt in July. While the output of ferrochrome declined, the supply was still in surplus amidst weak demand. This resulted in a decrease in ferrochrome prices.  (Source: Shanghai Metals […]

July 26, 2022

China’s Stainless Steel Exports on the Rise ...

While China’s stainless steel imports stood at 271,300 MT in June 2022, the export volume stood at 489, 900 MT. The import was up by 8.6% on a y-o-y basis and 18.03% on an m-o-m basis.  Countries such as Turkey, Japan, and South Korea have also witnessed an increase in export volume considerably, with India […]

July 26, 2022

“Nickel Asian trading to return soon”, LME CEO

According to London Metal Exchange (LME), the world’s largest and oldest forum for metals, nickel trading is going to restart in Asian hours soon. LME was forced to suspend the nickel market and cancel all trades after the commodity reached record highs, touching above $100, 000 a tonne.   The prices of commodities had surged due […]

June 27, 2022

First 3 months of 2022 witness a decrease in st...

According to the figures released by World Stainless Association, the first three months of 2022 show that the stainless steel melt shop production has decreased by 3.8% year–on–year to 14.5 million metric tons. However, in terms of Asia’s figures, barring China and South Korea, the stainless steel melt shop production increased by 4.1 % year-on-year […]

June 27, 2022

Stainless steel imports fall in May but exports...

According to SMM statistics, China’s stainless steel imports stood at 229,800 mt in May, a month-on-month decrease of 9,176 or 3.84%, and a year-on-year decrease of 24.05%. The import volume from Indonesia also declined simultaneously.  The export volume, on the other hand, increased significantly by about 486,700 mt compared with April, a month-on-month increase of […]

May 25, 2022

Nickel supply expected to boom this year

Global nickel usage surged by an extraordinary 16.2% in 2021 on the back of booming demand from both the stainless steel and battery end-use sectors. International Nickel Study Group (INSG) expects nickel usage to grow another 8.6 % this year, exceeding the 3.0 million tonne mark for the first time ever. Moreover, INSG is expecting […]

May 25, 2022

India to import 30 million tonnes ferrous scrap...

MRAI reported that India is expected to import about 30 million tonnes of ferrous scrap annually by 2030 in order to meet the Indian government’s vision of achieving a domestic steel production capacity of 300 million tonnes per year. As per MRAI, domestic scrap generation is increasing because of the government’s push on construction and […]

April 29, 2022

European Mn flake market weighs impact of China...

European manganese flake market is monitoring potential knock-on effects of COVID-19 restrictions and currency depreciations in China, in an effort to anticipate near and medium-term price direction in Europe. Weak domestic demand from China’s 200 series stainless steel segment pushed the heavily inflated market into a downward trajectory from late February until early April, since […]

April 29, 2022

INSG: Global demand for nickel will rise to 3.0...

INSG said that the global nickel demand is expected to increase to 3.02 million tonnes in 2022 from 2.78 million tonnes last year. INSG added that the global nickel production is expected to increase from 2.61 million tonnes last year to 3.08 million tonnes in 2022, mainly due to the expected increase in output in […]

March 30, 2022

Stainless steel contract up over 6%, SS spot su...

Spot prices of each stainless steel series rose in different degrees. Prices of 304 stainless steel went up due to the rise of LME nickel after opening, coupled with the market shutdown for unexpected accidents, resulting in a relatively tight supply. SHFE nickel hit limit up and SS contract rose 7% as well as the […]

March 30, 2022

Global battery sector’s demand for Nickel likel...

Japan’s largest nickel producer said that global demand for nickel in the battery industry will grow by more than 20% this year due to firm demand for electric vehicles. The producer supplies cathode nickel for Panasonic lithium batteries used in Tesla’s electric cars. Demand for nickel used by rechargeable batteries will rise to more than […]

February 27, 2022

Nickel price hits decade high as Ukraine tensio...

Nickel rose to $25,000 a ton for the first time since 2011, extending a rally driven by dwindling global inventories and concerns that Ukraine tensions could disrupt supplies from key producer Russia. The metal, used in stainless steel and rechargeable batteries, advanced as much as 3.2% to $25,135 a ton. It’s the top performer on […]

January 31, 2022

Ni surges on renewed inventory drawdown

The three-month nickel price on the London Metal Exchange (LME) touched its highest in over 10 years as global stocks dropped to new lows at a time of solid demand. Prices have been supported by a rapid draw of stocks led by strong demand. After falling in March-April 2021, the nickel market rebounded strongly in […]

January 31, 2022

China’s stainless steel market closes ahead of ...

China’s domestic and export markets for stainless steel closed this week ahead of next week’s Lunar New Year holiday, but prices were higher in response to gains in nickel. Stainless steel cold-rolled coil 2mm grade 304 domestic (Wuxi): 18,300-18,500 yuan ($2,895-2,927) per tonne, up by 400 yuan per tonne from a week earlier. Nickel gains last week […]

December 28, 2021

Stainless steel production increases by 16.9% i...

The International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) has released figures for the first nine months of 2021 showing that stainless steel melt shop production increased by 16.9% year–on–year to 43.0 million metric tons. (Source: ISSF)

December 28, 2021

China’s manganese production is forecast to fal...

Output cuts by several Chinese stainless steel producers are expected by market participants to pressure the spot manganese flake market in the short term. Manganese metal is mostly used in production for 200 series stainless steel. Key producers have begun to cut 200 series stainless steel this month in response to falling steel prices. China’s […]

November 25, 2021

China’s scrap steel to contribute to lower-carb...

Supplies of scrap steel in China are expected to be about 338 million metric tons by 2025, which will significantly promote the development of electric arc furnace-based steelmaking in the country. As China aims to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and realize carbon neutrality by 2060, production technologies with lower carbon emissions, such as […]

November 25, 2021

Global Ni supply, demand growth likely in sync ...

The world’s nickel supply and demand growth is very likely to be in sync in 2022, given the development of new projects on both the nickel production and consumption sides. The growth next year from both the supply and demand sides is expected to be about 300,000-350,000t. An estimated stainless steel production growth of 5pc in […]

October 23, 2021

Severe supply tightness of NPI sent nickel pric...

The current tightness of NPI, coupled with the upward trend in cost-end prices (mainly rising electricity prices) and the reduction in NPI output caused by power rationing, has made the problem of NPI shortage more difficult to solve. The supply of NPI in Indonesia is still tight. In the first quarter of next year, as […]

October 22, 2021

Supply chain woes force shifts in bulk alloy pu...

Tight supply and steep price hikes for bulk ferro-alloys and other stainless steel inputs are encouraging a shift in buying behaviours, with market participants leaning away from back-to-back spot trades.Several large European mills have already secured material for the first quarter of 2022, increasingly aiming to stockpile material rather than rely on hand-to-mouth top-ups from the […]

September 25, 2021 Source

Solid stainless production drives nickel price

From a bear narrative of oversupply in the first half of this year, the nickel market has swung dramatically to a bull story of rampant demand. That demand, however, is from solid stainless steel consumption, not from last year’s expectation of battery demand. China is largely driving the nickel price. A technical squeeze on the […]

September 25, 2021 Source

Shanghai stainless steel futures hit record hig...

Chinese stainless steel futures scaled their daily trading limit on Thursday to hit an all-time high, as market watchers were concerned by ongoing supply constraints of the metal while downstream demand remains resilient. The most active stainless steel contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, for October delivery, surged 7% to 20,680 yuan ($3,214.87) per tonne. […]

August 21, 2021 Source

Global stainless steel production to grow to 54...

With the effect of Covid-19 pandemic gradually waving away from markets, demand is expected to reach pre-pandemic times. The global stainless steel market production is expected to grow to 54 million tons in 2021 with an improvement in economic activity and stainless steelmaking capacity in parallel, especially in Indonesia that’s forecast to have a greater […]

August 20, 2021 Source

Nickel miners need to increase Class 1 output t...

Bank of America Securities cited “phenomenal” demand from the stainless sector in a research note, accounting for 70% of global nickel consumption as well as a longer-term demand from electric vehicles expected to reach a penetration rate of 51% by 2030. “Keeping in mind exponential demand growth, a key concern of the nickel market is […]

July 26, 2021 Source

Booming stainless steel output to sustain nicke...

Healthy demand from stainless steel mills and electric vehicle battery makers is expected to underpin nickel prices over coming months. Benchmark nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange, at $19,500 a tonne, are up more than 20% since April and at their highest since February. Production of 300-series stainless steel containing 8%-9% nickel jumped 36% […]

July 24, 2021 Source

China’s scrap imports fall with higher ov...

China’s ferrous scrap imports slipped in June as demand dropped in response to falling domestic steel prices in May. Japan and South Korean still remained the two main suppliers, although both fell significantly from the previous month. Suppliers allocated more volumes to their domestic markets on firmer demand and higher prices. Chinese buyers’ appetite faded […]

June 20, 2021 Source

Stainless production ramps up in US, Europe

International Stainless Steel Forum says the first 3 months of 2021 witnessed a global production of 14.5 million tonnes stainless steel. This also represents a 2.7% rise compared with the previous quarter.  The most dramatic year-on-year rebound has been in China, where nearly 37% more stainless steel was produced in the first quarter of this […]

June 10, 2021 Source

Fitch upgrades nickel forecast on long-term upt...

The nickel price will remain on a gradual uptrend in the long term as the global market remains in deficit, prompting Fitch Solutions to upgrade its long-term nickel price outlook from $15,750 per tonne to $16,500 per tonne for 2021. In recent months, Fitch reports that prices have broadly recovered from a steep price correction […]

May 20, 2021 Source

China’s scrap steel imports soar in Apr

After the Chinese government allowed the imports of scrap steel early this year, China imported 76,200 tonnes of scrap steel in the month of April. According to statistics from China Customs, imports soared by 67% compared to the previous month. Among them, stainless steel scrap accounted for around 4,800 tonnes, a month-on-month decrease of 65.8%, […]

May 20, 2021 Source

MITI issues final anti-dumping determination fo...

On 23 April 2021, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysia issued its final determination under the Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties Act 1993 and the Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties Regulations 1994 in respect of the importation of cold rolled stainless steel in coils, sheets or any other form (‘subject merchandise‘) originating or exported […]

April 21, 2021 Source

Nickel-rich Indonesia draws global suppliers of...

Major overseas companies are rushing to set up nickel-processing facilities in Indonesia as the country bans exports of raw ore. Germany-based BASF and French nickel processor Eramet are considering building a nickel- and cobalt-refining complex in Indonesia. The facilities would supply an annual 42,000 tonnes of nickel and 5,000 tons of cobalt, for use in […]

April 21, 2021 Source

Global molybdenum production rises while usage ...

As per figures released by the International Molybdenum Association (IMOA), global production of molybdenum rose by 5% in 2020 to 602.4 million pounds from 575.4 million pounds in 2019. However, global usage was 545.9 million pounds in 2020, a fall of 5% from 576.3 million pounds in the previous year. South America overtook China to […]

June 20, 2018

Agarwal Brothers

It is a story of kinship that miraculously paved way for the evolution of one of the brightest industries in India. Read how three brothers turned the fate of ‘stainless steel’ through their stainless spirit and grit of steel. It all started in the monsoon of 1967, when the eldest of the Agarwal brothers, Ramesh, […]