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SWAPS REPORT: OTC iron ore volumes push higher, prices steady

The iron ore swaps market saw volumes increase after New Year holidays in China damped activity in the earlier part of the week, brokers told Metal Bulletin on Friday January 27.
AISI, lawmakers urge oil, gas exploration

The American Iron and Steel Institute is urging the federal government to open new areas along the United States’ outer continental shelf (OCS) for oil and gas exploration and production, arguing the move would give the steel industry better access to affordable energy.
LME billet traded prices drop on back of negative physical market indications

Prices of concluded trades on the London Metal Exchange billet contract fell on Friday January 27 in the face of a weak physical market.
Iron ore swaps association IOSDA put 'on hold'

The Iron Ore and Steel Derivatives Association (IOSDA) has discontinued its iron ore swap forward curve mail-out service and has put itself ‘on hold’, the group said in a statement to members January 27.
350 jobs to go at UK’s Thamesteel, administrator says

A total of 350 jobs are to be lost at Thamesteel in the UK after the steelmaker went into administration, accountancy firm Mazars, appointed one of the administrators, said on Friday January 27.

Lead scrap prices on the rise

Stronger terminal markets have pushed up lead scrap prices by as much as six cents a pound from early December levels, according to scrap consumers and sellers.
UK 18/8 stainless steel scrap solids prices increase on nickel gains, tight supply

Prices for UK 18/8 stainless steel scrap solids between merchants increased on Friday January 27 as London Metal Exchange three-month nickel rose and supply tightened for smaller suppliers.
DAILY SCRAP REPORT: US exporter cuts scrap price in line with European transactions

Metal Bulletin’s Daily Ferrous Scrap Index plunged further on Friday January 27, to $437.44 per tonne cfr Iskenderun for HMS 1&2 (80:20), down from $447 the previous day.
Russian producers to maintain scrap exports despite ban

Russian ferrous scrap producers will keep export levels high despite the ban for material being shipped from most of the country’s far eastern ports coming into force in February, market participants told Metal Bulletin.
Ferrous scrap export yard buying prices drop

Ferrous scrap export yard buying prices have dropped an average of $10 per gross ton for most grades in the past week, and could fall further as exporters struggle to find offshore consumers and the domestic market has indicated weakness, market sources told AMM.

MEIR ON METALS: Metals retreat on softer GDP number, but ‘risk-on’ trades still in play

Analyst Ed Meir looks at what is moving the metal markets on Friday.
Century’s output in Iceland back on track after outage

Century Aluminum Co.’s smelter in Grundartangi, Iceland, is again operating at full capacity after a power outage temporarily halted production earlier this month.
Capstone plans to boost copper, zinc output

Capstone Mining Corp. is forecasting a slight pickup in production volumes in 2012, when it expects to produce about 80 million pounds of copper in concentrates at its Cozamin and Minto mines in Mexico and Canada, respectively, as well as about 20 million pounds of zinc contained in concentrate at Cozamin.
Quaterra pushing ahead with Nev. copper project

Quaterra Resources Inc. expects to complete a preliminary economic assessment for its MacArthur copper project in Yerington, Nev., by the end of the first quarter, company executives told AMM.
Base metals prices slow after five-month highs in LME officials

Base metals prices weakened in afternoon trading on the London Metal Exchange on Friday January 27 after posting a series of fresh five-month lows in the official session.

Accuride investing $75M in plant upgrades

Accuride Corp., which makes steel and aluminum wheels for the commercial vehicle sector, plans to invest some $75 million this year to upgrade its manufacturing processes and strengthen product availability and quality, the company said.
Caterpillar to focus on ‘organic growth’

Following a couple of years of focusing on major acquisitions, Caterpillar Inc. plans to fully integrate those assets and further expand organically.
Ford plans to triple EcoBoost vehicle production capacity

Ford Motor Co. plans to put its EcoBoost engines in 11 vehicle models in 2012, up from seven last year, tripling the production capacity of its EcoBoost-equipped cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles.
Mexican auto sector faces obstacles

The Mexican steel industry expects strong growth in the automotive sector this year, although that could be thwarted by a lack of domestic high-strength steel production capabilities as well as security concerns, according to steel suppliers and buyers.
CarTech expects continued strong demand

Carpenter Technology Corp. expects strong demand from its end markets, particularly aerospace and energy, to continue in 2012.

2012 aluminum market has ‘nowhere to go but up’

Fears of a double-dip recession prompted many aluminum customers to delay signing contracts, but despite a dreary near-term outlook, market players generally are gunning for a market resurgence.
2012 stainless steel outlook hazy amid nickel tags, slow US economy

A decline in nickel prices, the stagnant US economy and uncertainties surrounding foreign demand due to the European debt crisis: All are muddying the waters for those reflecting on the direction of the currents that will carry 2012 performance upstream—or downriver.
Aerospace titanium flying into sunnier skies for 2012

As steel and other commodities face economic turbulence, titanium appears to be flying smoothly amid expanding airliner production schedules and the generally held view that commercial aviation is on the verge of a few years of steadily growing build rates.

Tornado hits Marmon/Keystone facility in Alabama by Corinna Petry

A severe storm system moved across central Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, leaving one service center facility in Alabama destroyed while a major U.S. steelmaker shut its plant in the state as a precautionary measure.
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AK Steel’s McCoy set to retire at month-end by Lisa Gordon

Alan McCoy, the longtime spokesman for steelmaker AK Steel Corp., has announced his plans to retire.
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