The European Union will place tariffs on aluminium foil from China. The levy is based on the anti-dumping measures against Chinese aluminium foil on December 8. The comprehensive tariff is 16.1%-46.7%.

The green level of China's economic structure has been significantly improved in recent years. From 2016 to 2018, China’s steel and coal industries reduced and eliminated backward production capacity by 150 million mt and 810 million mt respectively, both of which achieved the target in the 13th five-year plan of eliminating production capacity ahead of schedule, according to China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

Taiwan is likely to impose a blanket ban on steel imports from China from May 15 in a bid to see exemption from the US steel tariffs.

A cargo of 100 mt of aluminium scrap imported from the US for processing use was rejected at the Yangshan customs in Shanghai this morning as it was required to pay the 25% import tariff, SMM learned.

Aluminium scrap imports from the US face a 25% tax from April 2 onwards as China ended its tariff concession on 128 items from the US in a retaliatory move amid an escalating trade war.

SMM believes that the 10% import tariff on aluminium signed by US President Donald Trump will have little impact on China’s aluminium market.  

Output of 10 nonferrous metals jumped 7.2% on a yearly basis to 27.596 million tonnes in the first six months of 2017, according to askci.com.

Rumor has it Shandong will slash aluminum output by over 2 million tonnes, SMM understands.

National Statistics Institute data showed Mexico’s copper output slid on a yearly basis in April, but zinc production jumped, wenhua.com reported.

The main sea freight index at Baltic Exchange for ships carrying dry bulk commodities rose above 900 points on Tuesday boosted by an increase in cape, panamax and supramax rates.