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September 2017
22 September 2017
Chinese fused magnesia prices hit all-time high; a ban on sales of explosives propel bauxite prices; brown fused alumina hit two-year high; iodine rises as consumers stock up; lithium prices held firm
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22 September 2017
Brown fused alumina spot prices continue to climb higher as the environmental inspections show no sign of abating in China, while white fused alumina is supported by raw material cost increases.
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22 September 2017
A looming mining curtailment due to an explosive sale ban in China has propelled spot bauxite prices higher. Supply uncertainty is set to continue over the coming months as Beijing continues its anti-pollution crusade.
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21 September 2017
The crucibles will have a capacity of 3 tonnes of molten metal, which can be increased up to 10 tonnes for specific melting requirements.
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21 September 2017
The proposed merger would lead to the creation of Europe's second-largest steelmaker.
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20 September 2017
The delivery of 35,000 tonnes cement-grade bauxite took place three weeks before schedule, bringing total sales since start of operations to over 80,000 tonnes.
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14 September 2017
Improved activity in refractory sales to both steelmakers and industrial customers led to higher turnover but negative currency effects, impairment charges related to the divestments and merger-related costs dented profitability.
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12 September 2017
The company’s magnesia carbon bricks facility in Germany is being acquired by Intocast, the group that is also taking over RHI’s dolomite operation in Italy and refractory plant in Spain.
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11 September 2017
RHI is divesting its dolomite operations in Spain and Italy, which will be taken over by Germany’s Intocast, following European directives prior to the merger with Magnesita. Separately, the company is also selling off the fused cast refractories for glassmaking business in Italy and Russia.
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08 September 2017
Chromite prices rebound; stronger renminbi supports brown fused alumina prices; supply shortage supports bauxite; global iodine price move up; antimony trioxide stalls.
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08 September 2017
Refractory-grade bauxite prices remained firm as supply uncertainty related to anti-pollution controls in China continues, while market participants warned of quality issues brought about by intermittent production.
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08 September 2017
Rising renminbi value against the US dollar has eroded Chinese brown fused alumina (BFA) producers’ profit margins, and many are raising their offers in early September as a counter-measure. This has lifted BFA spot prices in China while anti-pollution checks continued to cap output.
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08 September 2017
One of the largest markets for industrial minerals, refractories are essential for producing steel, glass, ceramics, cement and lime and for many other processes requiring high temperatures. But as Richard Flook* explains, despite their crucial role, manufacturers of these products are facing significant challenges from changing global trends.
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08 September 2017
Booming steel production has helped prop up demand for Indian refractories amid lacklustre demand from cement and foundries, but as Sunder Singh, IM Correspondent explains, the country’s relatively healthy market is attracting increased foreign competition.
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06 September 2017
The alumina producer increases Taiwanese grinding capacity in response to rising Asian demand.
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05 September 2017
The Chinese government plans to criminalise businesses operating without licences, and the new, harsher policy could eliminate many small-scale industrial minerals producers without the legal paperwork.
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04 September 2017
Luxembourg-headquartered Traxys Group has successfully acquired US-based minerals trader CMC Cometals.
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01 September 2017
Ongoing works for the construction of the bauxite mine at the Bauxite Hills site in Australia are on schedule.
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August 2017
31 August 2017
Construction can now start at the Meckering kaolin mine, where Altech plans to mine feedstocks for its high purity alumina plant in Malaysia.
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31 August 2017
The installation of a tabular alumina converter is crucial to ensure continuous expansion in the Indian market.
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30 August 2017
Strong demand in both divisions – technical ceramics and functional fillers – underpinned revenue growth for the German speciality materials supplier.
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29 August 2017
The three leases were crucial to progress with the construction of the bauxite mine and achieve first production in early 2018.
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29 August 2017
Alumina production at the Worsley facility in Australia is expected to reach record output in the coming financial year.
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25 August 2017
Brown fused alumina prices in China reached a 1.5-year high this week. The ongoing anti-pollution checks continue to cap production in Henan while scrutiny on export documents is ridding the market of lower offers.
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25 August 2017
Dwindling supply lifts Chinese calcined bauxite prices; Renewed supply pressure lifts Chinese antimony trioxide prices; Firm chromite prices amid improving demand; Stricter inspections in China force graphite prices up; Chinese brown fused alumina hit 1.5-year highs
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25 August 2017
Further crackdown on environmental rule-breaking plants in Shanxi have slashed calcined bauxite output, pushing prices up over the past fortnight.
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23 August 2017
Monthly production of chromite, limestone, magnesia and bauxite all decreased, while limestone, zinc and lead concentrate rose.
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21 August 2017
The ladle tube changer will connect ladle and tundish casting stages at thyssenkrupp CSA’s facility, removing the need for workers to operate near the molten metal and making the casting process more automated.
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16 August 2017
The refractory products maker saw higher revenue and profits in the first half of the year, but warned that volatility in magnesia prices and supply can lead to further disruptions.
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15 August 2017
Key refractory-minerals producing region Shanxi will implement a new environmental measure to shut down all facilities that do not meet standards by end-September. This is set to further affect calcined bauxite production.
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14 August 2017
The refractory maker posted record sales of dead burned magnesia but a combination of higher costs and negative exchange rate effects, as well as expenses related to the ongoing merger process with RHI, affected profitability.
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14 August 2017
Several refractory minerals suppliers alleged to have committed tax evasion have reportedly been arrested in China, with many wary of Beijing’s clampdown on the practice warning that there could be more prosecutions.
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11 August 2017
Two Chinese producers announced another price hike for rare earth; while strict environment checks pushed brown fused alumina higher.
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11 August 2017
Environmental controls in Henan are choking brown fused alumina supply and pushing prices upwards.
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07 August 2017
Speciality alumina demand in Europe led the division to boost activity and revenue in the quarter, while sales in both the TiO2 and barium sulphate segments were mostly unchanged.
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07 August 2017
The HPA producer received the first tranche of an additional funding package, which it will use towards the restructuring process.
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04 August 2017
The minerals and technology supplier saw higher demand for calcium carbonate in China, flat mineral sales and lower activity in the refractories space, but managed to improve margins.
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02 August 2017
Bauxite and alumina business on the up; activity in borates and TiO2 also increasing, while salt output fell.
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01 August 2017
With production operations on hold and its securities delisted from the TSX, the high-purity alumina producer has recorded another quarter of heavy losses.