From the last week of April to the first week of July, U.S. ferrosilicon prices fell 23%, to the biggest drop since 2008.

LME nickel price trend on July 23rd

The 2009 ferrosilicon contract price on ZCE closed at 5550 yuan per ton on July 24.

China's Tianjin port saw iron ore imports rise 13.6 percent year-on-year to around 37.86 million tons in the first half of this year, according to Tianjin Customs.

Nickel price trend on July 23rd

LME nickel price trend on July 22nd

The 2009 ferrosilicon contract price on ZCE closed at 5628 yuan per ton on July 23.

Trade unions in the UK suggest they will not allow the end of blast furnace steel production.