The increases are underpinned primarily by higher production costs.

The company plans to sell its USW-represented blast furnace steelmaking plant in Granite City, Illinois, to SunCoke by 2024.

The fall in premiums has not come as a surprise as weak demand continues to delay settlements for third-quarter pellet premiums, particularly among Japanese mills.

Norwegian Elkem issued force majeure letters and stop/scale back production.

Its revenues during this period slipped by 15pc to $268.5mn in line with the lower sales, although its average selling price climbed to $39.21/wmt, up by 26.1pc from $31.10/wmt a year earlier.

Steel producer Hoa Phat Group has signed a contract to export 8,000 tonnes of rebar to Mexico, its first order from the North American country.

Many steel enterprises saw profits drop by up to 90% in Q2 of this year, amid plunging steel prices.

The mining giant said it did not agree with the decision and would appeal within the next 10 days.