Of particular interest this week:
Zinc: Market is tightening just when shorts are at high levels, and Chinese and Glencore smelters commit (at last) to cutting output.
Nickel: delays to NPI smelters under construction in Indonesia due to lack of finance.
Shipping : recovery in Singapore throughput growth. Not yet reflected in other economies.
SUMMARY
Copper Newmont now permitted to ship Cu concentrate from Indonesia.
Nickel NPI construction projects in Indonesia are being put on hold due to lack of finance.
Zinc & Lead Finally! Zn smelters commit to production cut-backs. Now they need to follow through.
Tin Global Sn market running a minor deficit for the nine months to Sept 2015.
Aluminium Guinea exports its first cargo ship of bauxite to China.
Gold Gold price fell in all key currencies this week. Outlook generally is for lower gold prices.
Platinum & Palladium Pt to record a deficit for 2015.
Oil Differing views on oil demand outlook. El Nino may be a left-field factor.
Coal Regulatory delays plaguing Australian coal miners.
Iron Ore North Chinese steel mills shuttering furnaces. However forecasts of low iron ore prices remain.
Shipping Cape rates continue to drift down.
General
Port of Singapore – Shipping. A growth recovery appears under way.
USA – New Housing Starts, Industrial Production, Capacity Utilisation.
World Steel – Positive growth is recorded patchily through the emerging producers.