Copper Bulls Maintain Control

Having initially reacted negatively to the the Chinese stimulus two weeks ago the futures found buying support at the 55 day average. The bulls maintain control pushing the futures back to (and slightly above) the highs from the 21 – 05 – 20   Control, but not dominance, four days of upward price action is …

American Farmers Awaiting Bumper Corn Crop Need Ethanol Demand

American corn farmers are feeling better about their prospects with billions more in government aid and optimal growing conditions. There’s only one downer — demand.   Much of the U.S. biofuel industry is still limping along even as the economy ramps up from coronavirus-related lockdowns. While some plants have switched to making hand sanitizer, that …

The Iron Ore Market Is Polarized as Australia Booms, Brazil Lags

In the global iron ore market right now it’s a tale of two very different exporters. While mining majors in Australia are going flat out and the country may be shipping record volumes, rival Brazil has seen stunted flows with the coronavirus pandemic restraining operations.   The contrasting fortunes of the pair — which between them account more than …

Iron ore “could continue to test new highs”

Iron ore futures rallied above $98 on Tuesday on better Chinese outlook and ongoing supply concerns from Brazil. Iron ore port inventories have fallen to a four-year low as China moved past the coronavirus pandemic, prompting Chinese steel mills to ramp up output, boosting demand for iron ore.   The latest Purchasing Manager’s Index for …

DCE stays on black after closing selloff

Chinese futures struggled to stay on positive after a selloff near closing that threatened to give up all the gains made in the morning session. Thus, the most-actively traded iron ore futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE), for September delivery, went up slightly by 0.07% day-on-day to RMB 757 per tonne on Tuesday. Similar …

Capesize rates hike up amid European holidays

Capesize rates gained slightly despite holidays across Europe that took off several players out of the market. Despite of thin trading, the Capesize 5 time charter average hiked by $279 to $3,648 on Monday, without any noticeable change in the physical market. In the meantime, the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) had gained steadily to 520 …

Vale expected to ship more iron ore to China in 2020

Brazil’s Vale SA expects iron ore shipments to China to rise in 2020, versus 2019, due to falling demand in other countries hurt by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a phone call between the miner and the China Iron and Steel Association. Production at Vale has not been impacted by the pandemic and it is …

Iron ore consolidation points to potential reversal

Ferrous Sector Money-flow: DCE iron ore aggregated open interest reached a high at 1.18 million lots on February 21 as well as creating periodic high, following a correction of 19.26%. The open interest high last week was 1.15 million lots. Long positions need to be aware of the similar correction happen for the second time …

Full tankers idle as crude scrapes back near $40

Brent crude has doubled in price over the past six weeks, pulling back from the brink and the unprecedented step of negative US crude prices.   With Chinese demand increasing and the new OPEC cuts, with the extension being discussed right now, it has managed to drag prices to just under $40.   Meanwhile queues …