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November 2020
27 November 2020
Brown fused alumina (BFA) and refractory-grade bauxite prices climbed in the latest fortnightly pricing session on Thursday November 26 due to support from environmental regulations in China for the winter months, while the Chinese white fused alumina (WFA) assessment rose by 5% on the low end amid fast-rising container freight rates.
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25 November 2020
The recent surge in container freight costs and availability of cargo space continue to disrupt trade flows in minerals and metals, with trading companies finding themselves unable to dodge the soaring shipping rates.
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25 November 2020
Global crude steel output rose for the third consecutive month in October as other countries joined China in ramping up production, according to the latest figures from the World Steel Association (Worldsteel).
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25 November 2020
European steelmakers need to consolidate to gain better control over pricing and the supply-demand balance as well as to better tackle rising production costs, but it will not solve the major problems of the European flat steel market, sources told Fastmarkets.
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17 November 2020
China’s crude steel, hot metal and finished steel output continued to grow on a year-on-year basis in October, according to data released by the country’s National Bureau of Statistics on Monday November 16.
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16 November 2020
Fifteen countries signed up to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership at the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Sunday November 15.
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16 November 2020
China produced 17.45 million tonnes of refractory materials in China in the first nine months of 2020, down by 7.3% year on year, although performance improved in the third quarter compared with earlier in the year.
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13 November 2020
China’s price for white fused alumina (WFA) moved up during the fortnight to Thursday November 12 amid surging container freight rates, while the markets for brown fused alumina (BFA) and refractory-grade bauxite edged higher on the rising value of the Chinese yuan and the threat of environmental controls on operations in major production hubs.
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12 November 2020
Fast-rising costs for container freight on a number of major shipping routes are causing disruption in trade flows for minerals and metals alike, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday November 12.
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11 November 2020
Contract negotiations for next year’s supply of calcined alumina volumes were progressing slowly, with both sellers and buyers expecting discussions to continue beyond the end of 2020, sources told Fastmarkets.
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10 November 2020
With China significantly ahead of the curve in terms of economic recovery after Covid-19, its ambitious infrastructure investments have been under the spotlight because of the enormous boost to domestic consumption - especially demand for steel products.
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09 November 2020
A new round of environmental regulations in the coming winter season will add to the supply crisis caused by a shortage of bauxite ore and depletion of high-quality resources in Shanxi province, China’s production hub for refractory-grade bauxite, sources have told Fastmarkets.
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06 November 2020
Contracts for the supply of several mineral raw materials for 2021 are expected to be shorter in their duration and cover smaller volumes compared with previous years, while market participants claim negotiations are progressing slowly and with no clear market references.
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06 November 2020
A summary of ArcelorMittal's financial results for the third quarter of 2020.
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04 November 2020
A summary of results from France-headquartered minerals producer and processor Imerys for the third quarter of 2020, released on Monday November 2.
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02 November 2020
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.
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October 2020
30 October 2020
The Chinese brown fused (BFA) and white fused alumina (WFA) markets held firm in the two weeks to Thursday October 29 after previous gains on a stronger Chinese yuan.
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30 October 2020
Chinese provincial authorities are putting plans into operation to control air pollution during the winter months, in accordance with the aims of the Beijing government.
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30 October 2020
A summary of German specialty alumina producer Nabaltec’s results for the third quarter of 2020, released on Tuesday October 27.
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29 October 2020
Thirty years from now, the global steel industry will likely use more briquetted iron products and scrap and hardly any steelworkers, executives said during the "Steel Industry 2050" panel at Fastmarkets' 2020 Steel Success Strategies Online conference.
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29 October 2020
Demand for steel in the European Union dropped by 25% year on year in the second quarter of 2020 and while European steel association Eurofer expects the pace of decline to slow in the fourth quarter, it believes demand will not recover until late 2020-early 2021.
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29 October 2020
Merger-and-acquisition activity in the metals sector should pick up in 2021, Vince Pappalardo, managing partner of Brown Gibbons Lang & Co, told attendees during Fastmarkets' 2020 Steel Success Strategies Online conference on Tuesday October 27.
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16 October 2020
Chinese authorities will impose strict regulations on industrial production for the fourth consecutive year in the autumn and winter of 2020-21, affecting a number of cities and provinces in the north of the country, with output expected to be curtailed for as long as six months.
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16 October 2020
The market for refractory grade bauxite and brown fused alumina (BFA) ticked up in the past fortnight to Thursday October 15 on a rising yuan after China's Golden Week holiday in early October, while white fused alumina (WFA) held firm after previous upward adjustments.
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13 October 2020
The numbers of cases of Covid-19 infection have begun to grow once more across Europe, and Fastmarkets has heard the fears of various market participants about the consequences that any new restrictions or lockdowns could have for the steel sector.
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09 October 2020
Producer Alcoa will curtail its San Ciprián aluminium smelter in Spain and initiate a collective dismissal, it announced on Friday October 9.
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09 October 2020
ArcelorMittal will permanently close its Krakow steelworks' hot area due to the dramatic effects of Covid-19 on the European steel market, but coke plant and rolling mills will remain operational, the company said on Thursday October 8.
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08 October 2020
The market for specialty grade calcined alumina for refractory use has stabilized after dropping over 10% so far this year and by close to 20% in the past 15 months, industry sources said.
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07 October 2020
Fastmarkets has discontinued the publication of its assessment of the price of alumina hydrate (ATH), with effect from Wednesday October 7.
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06 October 2020
With less than one month remaining before the presidential election in the United States, Fastmarkets takes a look at how the two main candidates’ platforms could affect the mineral markets.
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06 October 2020
Fastmarkets opened a consultation on September 1, 2020, inviting feedback on its industrial minerals methodology in line with our annual methodology review process.