On April 8, LME nickel inventory increased by 630 mt, with the Kaohsiung warehouse showing the largest change.

On June 15, the SMM battery-grade nickel sulphate average price slightly rose.

Brussels is considering extending free ETS certificate allocations beyond the originally planned 2036 phase-out, which would continue to benefit blast furnace producers while leaving early adopters of cleaner electric arc furnace technology largely uncompensated, creating perverse incentives. The proposal has exposed a deep dilemma within Germany's IG Metall union, which represents workers at both blast furnace and EAF facilities with diametrically opposed interests; Saarland's union chapter vocally opposes ETS dilution while the national Berlin organization has remained silent on the issue. Meanwhile, WV Stahl is demanding permanent electricity price relief to EUR 50/MWh, with critics noting this would ultimately be funded by German taxpayers. In base metals, Asian and European markets posted broad gains on Friday, with zinc leading at over 2%.

The EEC's Department for Internal Market Defence has issued its final disclosure for the first AD sunset review on stainless steel welded pipes from China, concluding that removing existing measures would lead to a recurrence of dumping and injury to EAEU industries. It has recommended extending AD duties for a further five years. The products covered are corrosion-resistant steel welded pipes and hollow profiles with wall thickness of 0.4–6mm in circular, rectangular, or square cross-sections (HS codes 7306 40 2009, 7306 40 800 1, 7306 40 800 8, and 7306 61 1009). Current duty rates stand at 14.62% for Foshan Vinmay Stainless Steel Co., Ltd. and 17.28% for Guangdong Sumwin New Material Group Co., Ltd. and other Chinese producers.