Industrial Minerals


Australian refractory market hit by steel slump

03 November 2011

by Mike O'Driscoll

UNITECR: BlueScope NSW furnace closure sinks refractories market by up to 15%

The Australian steel industry is having a rough ride at present, with both its steel producers impacted by the strong Australian dollar and declining demand, forcing one of the companies to cut costs by plant closures.

 

The most significant hit for the country’s refractories industry is BlueScope Steel’s decision to close one of its two steel furnaces at Port Kembla, New South Wales.

 

BlueScope, which had earlier signalled that it would cut...