CRU’s Metallurgical Coal Market Outlook, published Friday 3rd May 2013, reports that continued oversupply and sluggish demand conditions will continue to weigh on near-term metallurgical coal prices. CRU Consultant Adam Parums writes “As demand dynamics are unlikely to boost prices soon, global metallurgical coal producers must reduce costs in order to maintain or restore profits. In this regard, the coming quarters will be very tough for global suppliers, however, we believe the medium-and long-term picture for this commodity remains robust.”

CRU’s Sulphuric Acid Market Outlook, published Friday 17th May, reports that unexpected smelter outages have significantly tightened the supply side of the market. CRU Sulphur/Sulphuric Acid Consultant Peter Harrisson writes “Further cuts in supply will place further upwards pressure on price as they come along side an extensive programme of planned outages. Weak demand has prevented an immediate price shock but the scale of scheduled production cuts in September are forecast encourage prices higher.”

CRU’s Metallurgical Coke Market Outlook, published on Friday 17th May 2013, reports that metallurgical coke prices are due to come under further strain in the near term. CRU Consultant Anna Fleming writes “A lethal combination of frail import demand, solid availability of low-cost Chinese export supply and a lowered production cost forecast points towards continued downside pressure for metallurgical coke prices until mid-2014.”

CRU’s Iron Ore Market Outlook, published Friday 5th April 2013, reports that investor nervousness in the iron ore industry has persisted despite a rebound in prices in 2013 Q1. CRU Senior Consultant Laura Brooks writes “Iron ore prices are set to erode through the 5-year forecast, although the slow realisation of projects and an absence of significant Indian tonnages on the seaborne market will keep prices from crashing.”

CRU’s Steel Plate Products Market Outlook Prices Update, published on Friday 17th May 2013, reports that steel plate prices are set to remain weak in 2013 Q3. CRU Principal Consultant John Kovacs writes “With Chinese output remaining strong, and global end-use demand still weak due to poor sentiment, we expect prices to remain low in the near-term, although some improvement will be seen towards the end of this year.”

CRU’s Cables Industry Analyst published Friday 17th May looks at the increasing market share in the wire & cable industry secured by companies from South Korea and the emphasis some South Korean companies are placing on securing these new markets. Many South Korean wire & cable manufacturers, such as the largest, LS Cable & System, part of LS Corp, Taihan Electric and Iljin Electric have company strategies in place to “aggressively pursue” business in the HV cable market. This strategy, they hope, will improve falling profitability.

CRU’s Bauxite and Alumina Monitor, published on 9th May, reports that CRU’s Alumina Index Price has edged up to trade at $328/t FOB Australia amidst subdued market conditions. CRU Consultant Terece Muir says, “market activity has quietened down while the LME 3-Months aluminium price struggles to find direction. Meanwhile, China imported 14.0m tonnes of bauxite in Q1 2013, exceeding the peak of imports achieved in Q1 2012 when alumina producers were hastening to stockpile bauxite ahead of the Indonesian export quota restrictions”.

CRU’s Copper Raw Materials Monitor, published Thursday 16th May 2013, reports that the copper concentrates market has eased due to smelter disruptions, while the scrap market has tightened, leading to smelter closures. CRU Senior Consultant Erik Heimlich writes “The spot concentrates market has reacted to the availability of additional material resulting from the closure of Sterlite’s Tuticorin smelter, with spot terms to Chinese smelters rising to a level of $75/7.5¢ in April, and increasing further to $77/7.7¢ in the first half of May.”

CRU’s Zinc Monitor, published Thursday 16th May 2013, reports that demand recovery is uneven across regions and sectors. CRU Senior Consultant Helen O’Cleary writes “Zinc demand in China and the Far East as a whole continues to improve, and the North American zinc market is stable. However, European consumption growth remains elusive.

CRU’s Lead Monitor, published Thursday 16th May 2013, reports of more anguish for Exide. Principal Consultant Neil Hawkes writes that “the enforced idling of Exide’s Vernon smelter has prompted the company to cover. Otherwise lead prices are once again settling around the $2,000/t anchor, with ILZSG’s recent meeting confirming CRU’s view of a more finely balanced market.”