News archive

Successful acquisition by the KMR Group

News - 15 Jan 08

File: Successful acquisition by the KMR Group

Asia makes for happy customers

News - 14 Nov 07

In the last few weeks, stainless steel producers, AK Steel, ThyssenKrupp Mexinox and Yieh United Stainless Corporation (YUSCO) all announced price increases. This indicates that more than likely the situation on the stainless steel markets is returning more to normal, with both demand and production increasing. This expectation is also reflected in the development of the LME nickel quotations, at the moment in a range, for the 3 months price, of USD 32,500.00/mt and 34,000.00/mt. There has been a substantial recovery from the lows of around USD 25,000.00/mt, seen in August this year, and also a continual increase in stocks in the LME warehouses, at present over 41,000 mt which indicates adequate supplies in general. With this in mind, it is expected that in the short-term there will be a consolidation of prices at present levels. Whether a rally on the LME will be seen to-wards year end is not really conclusive, although this would probably have no fundamental backing.

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Bye-bye alloy surcharge!

News - 16 Oct 07

In line with further improvements to the fundamentals of the stainless steel markets – especially in Asia clear posi-tive signs are being seen – the trading range for 3 months nickel has increased from USD 25,000.00/30,000.00/mt up to USD 30,000.00/35,000.00/mt. The continuing rise of LME nickel warehouse stocks has come to a standstill, at just short of 35,600 mt. A continual outflow, again in Asia, has been taking place for a number of days now.

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There is light at the end of the tunnel

News - 14 Sep 07

The dark clouds, which had been hanging over the market for stainless steel since the end of May, are beginning to disappear. This does not, however, mean that the sun is beginning to shine, but the general feeling is starting to improve and the media are coming up with some occasional positive reports. The defensive price mechanism for raw materials, seen by some stainless producers, is no longer common practice. Manufacturers are now trying to make deals with much more favourable prices over longer periods. This speaks quite strongly for a recovery in the near future.

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Novices of the nickel market

News - 17 Aug 07

It was not enough for nickel prices to come under pressure through the heavy cut-backs imposed by the stainless steel producers themselves; on top of this, the housing bubble in the USA burst, causing problems with the banks involved which threatens to reach the real economic sector. So it is not surprising that the nickel rates fell into a lower price range of USD 25,000.00/mt to USD 30,000.00/mt. Even at one point of the sub-prime mortgage crisis when the European Central Bank, and others, had to provide money markets with liquidity, the 3 months quote fell to a relative low of USD 24.800,00/mt.

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