Industrial Minerals

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Rotterdam almost clear of Suez blockage backlog, Port Authority says

Wednesday, 12 May 2021

The so-called “Suez Armada” of vessels that were delayed by the unintentional blockage of the Suez Canal has now been processed by the Port of Rotterdam, but the port was still “extremely” busy and there were challenges ahead for the shipping sector, speakers said during the Supply Chain Talks digital event on Wednesday May 5.
Logistics havoc causing new supply chain delays, rising costs for consumers

Monday, 10 May 2021

Consuming markets of commodity raw materials are under pressure yet again from a combination of renewed increases in sea freight costs and overstretched logistics, making delivery schedules unreliable and causing long delays at a time when suppliers are tightening contracting terms to reduce liability.
AT A GLANCE: ArcelorMittal's Q1 earnings ‘strongest in a decade’

Friday, 07 May 2021

A summary of ArcelorMittal's financial results for January-March 2021.
Complex logistics supports BFA, WFA prices; bauxite adjusts

Friday, 30 April 2021

Prices for brown fused alumina (BFA) held firm during the fortnight to Thursday April 29, driven by complex logistics arrangements from China to major overseas markets in addition to supply interruption and good demand while white fused alumina (WFA) edged up amid similar conditions.

Complex logistics supports BFA, WFA prices; bauxite adjusts

Friday, 30 April 2021

Prices for brown fused alumina (BFA) held firm during the fortnight to Thursday April 29, driven by complex logistics arrangements from China to major overseas markets in addition to supply interruption and good demand while white fused alumina (WFA) edged up amid similar conditions.
Bauxite prices adjust downward after firm Q1; alumina markets flat

Friday, 16 April 2021

China’s bauxite markets ticked down in the two weeks to Thursday April 15 on a mixed picture of improved land transport while demand continues to be strong, whereas white fused alumina (WFA) into Europe continued to be supported by high shipping costs and brown fused alumina (BFA) held unchanged amid increasing production costs.
WFA price narrows upward amid complex logistics picture; bauxite, BFA markets stable

Monday, 05 April 2021

Freight rate differentials between materials shipped in containers and in bulk from China to Europe continued to be a major driver of white fused alumina (WFA) prices in the two weeks ended Thursday April 1.
Bauxite kilns in Xiaoyi suspended on local environmental regulations

Tuesday, 30 March 2021

Bauxite calcination kilns in the city of Xiaoyi, in China’s Shanxi province, remained at a standstill following the normal autumn-winter shutdown because of the local government’s continuing anti-pollution drive, according to market sources.

Bauxite shortage likely for refractories

Monday, 15 February 2021

Refractory raw material consumers are likely to face shortages in bauxite, with the continued supply and logistics bottlenecks from China coming against a low-stock situation in destination markets.
China's brown fused alumina exports tumble in 2020

Monday, 15 February 2021

China’s exports of refractory-grade bauxite and white fused alumina dropped slightly in 2020, while exports of brown fused alumina plunged by 26%, owing to preference for lower-priced WFA according to sources.
Download the February 2021 issue of MMM

Monday, 15 February 2021

Welcome to the February 2021 issue of Metal Market Magazine, where we feature an in-depth look at the issues surrounding Chinese bauxite supply, the effect of environmental controls on bauxite and fused alumina output, and a gradual improvement in trading conditions for calcined alumina.
Environmental controls squeeze fused alumina, bauxite supply

Monday, 15 February 2021

Supply uncertainty facing the refractories raw material sector is to continue in the first quarter of 2021 due to regulations in major Chinese production hubs for bauxite and fused alumina, as well as surging logistics costs.