Reaction to Spain’s 1st National Industrial Minerals Congress in Zaragoza last month, which shone a spotlight on the plight of the country’s minerals industry, could result in some major changes.
Mineral suppliers in the country are suffering from their close ties to construction and ceramics industries both of which are experiencing torrid times. For example ceramic tile production has fallen from 650m. m2 in 2006 to 324m. m2 in 2009 and is expected to fall further still this year.
The impact on the mineral sector is expected to get worse this year.
“We are facing another 15-20% drop in demand in 2010 with recovery beginning next year, hopefully,” Manuel Reguerio of the Spanish Institute of Geology and Minerals (IGME) said in an interview with IM.
Minerals used in ceramics and construction materials like cement and glass such as silica sand, kaolin, feldspar and...