Ocean Freight Rates Rise on East-West Routes at Year-End
The main East-West shipping lanes closed the year with clear signs of strengthening freight rates, confirming an upward trend that has intensified over the past few weeks. On the Asia-Europe routes, prices increased 1% in the last week, reaching $2,742 per FEU, but...
Base Metals Rise in Shanghai, But Zinc and Lead Slow on New Year’s Eve
Base metal prices traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) showed an overall positive trend on the morning of Wednesday, December 31st, confirming a climate of moderate optimism in Asian markets. Zinc and lead, however, stood out from the general upward...
Refined Copper and Scrap in the United States: A Market in Transition After the Chaos of 2025
After a turbulent 2025, the US refined copper and scrap market is heading into 2026 with cautious expectations. According to operators surveyed by Commodity Evolution, activity will likely remain subdued in the new year, while uncertainty continues to cloud the...
Steel Demand in India Growing Strongly, But Scrap Remains Under Pressure
The outlook for the Indian steel market in 2026 appears positive overall on the final demand side, but much more nuanced and complex on the raw materials side. According to sources at Commodity Evolution, India is poised to record another year of solid growth in steel...
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