Metals &Mining Alert:Daily prices and news,Aluminum premiums in Japan fall to 7year low
Industrials (/lb): aluminum $0.76 (+0.4%), copper $2.20 (+0.5%), lead $0.94(+3.3%), molybdenum $6.76 (+0.0%); nickel $4.73 (-2.4%); zinc $1.07 (+1.0%);Precious (/oz): gold $1,320 (-0.1%), silver $19.10 (-0.5%); Steel (/mt): ChinaHRC $433 (+0.5%), SHFE Rebar $346 (+1.6%), MB Scrap Index $203 (-0.5%);Bulks: iron ore (/dmt) $56 (+0.1%), coking coal (/mt) $214 (+0.4%), freight (BCI)2,067 (-5.9%); Energy: Brent (/bbl) $49.24 (+1.1%), WTI (/bbl) $47.83 (+1.7%),natural gas (/mmBtu) $2.96 (+0.2%), thermal coal (/t) $72 (-0.6%).
Japan’s aluminum premiums for 4Q16 fall to seven-year low of $75/ton or3.4c/lb (-18% QoQ) on falling spot regional premiums amid a supply glut. Thisis lower than initial offer of $80-82/ton (3.5-3.7c/lb). Weak Japan premiacompares to a global aluminum price of $1,671/ton ($0.76/lb) reflectingcontinued oversupply in China. (Reuters, DB).
Crude steel output by members of China Iron & Steel Association increased0.9% sequentially to 1.77m tons/day during September 11-20, the secondhighest level for 2016, as most mills remain profitable despite some pricevolatility. Finished steel inventories rose to 14m tons on 9/20 (+3% vs 9/10level). (SBB).
Vale announces approval of new terms with Mitsui of divestment of its interestin the Moatize coal mine and the Nacala Logistics Corridor (NLC). Vale shouldreceive $768m after transaction is closed. This includes $255m for 15% stakein Moatize mine (excludes $195m conditional payment), $348m for a 50%stake and quasi-equity instruments of NLC and $165m long term facility toNLC. (Company).
S&P downgrades Freeport’s credit rating from BB to BB- reflecting their viewon the company’s competitive position, efficiency and scale. They expect astronger financial risk profile by year end due to the debt reduction effortstaken by Freeport. Announced asset sales, equity issuances and higher neartermgold production (from Grasberg) should improve the outlook. (StreetInsider).
Alcoa’s Board of Directors approves separation of Company into twoindependent, publicly traded companies, effective November 1. The board willreview the dividend policy following the split and a meeting for reverse split ofshares (1:3) taking place on October 5. (Company).
Cliffs announces new three-year contract with United Steelworkers for itsMichigan and Minnesota operations which covers ~2,000 employees, isretroactively effective from Oct 1, 2015 through Sept 30, 2018. There is nowage increase and no change in current employee health care. (Company).
BHP suspends operations at Olympic Dam following a power cut caused bysevere weather. AME estimates that 3kt of copper, 2koz of gold, 500kg ofsilver and 52t of uranium production will be lost each week that the operationis suspended. (AME)