Bentonite latest news

• Refractory minerals taken off US tariffs list; TiO2 pigments, ceramic raw materials still included 18 September 2018

  Graphite, magnesia, alumina and silicon carbide are excluded from the list of China-origin materials subject to a new US tariff, as are antimony, rare earths and barite. Pigments such as titanium dioxide will also be subject to the duty, as will refractory finished products, some ceramic minerals such as kaolin, and lithium. Read More

• Industrial minerals sector braces for US tariff announcement on Chinese materials 10 September 2018

  The final list of materials to become subject to new US import tariffs could be announced at any moment, with almost all industrial minerals among the possible targets. Read More

• US to look at 25% rate for Chinese mineral tariffs 02 August 2018

  The Trump administration has asked its trade authorities to consider a 25% import duty rate on Chinese minerals rather than the 10% rate it officially proposed in July. Read More

• Chinese refractories, TiO2, barytes, fluorspar among minerals hit by US tariffs 11 July 2018

  The US/China trade war is heating up, and industrial minerals are in the firing line. Read More

• IM's March Price Movements IM April 2018

  IM's monthly price movements. Read More

• US drilling activity hits three-year high IM April 2018

  The US rig count is at a three-year high, with demand painting a positive picture for oilfield mineral pricing. Read More

• IM's November Price Movements IM October-November 2017

  IM's monthly price movements. Read More

• US drilling activity continues to outpace rest of the world IM July-August 2017

  The boom in US oilfield activity is not being matched by oil producers in other markets, the latest Baker Hughes rig numbers show. Read More

• Raw materials suppliers enjoy bonanza in Indian ceramics industry IM April 2017

  Ceramics production growing rapidly in India; Demand is high for good-quality raw materials; Producers expect expansion to continue Read More

• Rig count figures indicate oil and gas improvement IM February 2017

  The latest figures from Baker Hughes, one of North America's largest oilfield services providers, and the American Petroleum Institute, show that drilling activity is improving, particularly in the US, which could help strengthen demand for oilfield minerals such as frac sand and barite. Read More

• UKOOG: Fracking possible with limited environmental impact IM February 2017

  According to a report published by the UK trade body, it would be possible to cut the UK's dependency on gas imports by half while still maintaining the UK's countryside areas, using similar operational models as in the US. Read More

• OPEC agrees to curb oil output IM December 2016-January 2017

  Oil prices rallied following an announcement by OPEC that it would set a production limit of 32.5m bbl/d. Read More

• Industrial minerals in the new Trump era IM December 2016-January 2017

  Trump win ‘positive’ for oil and gas sector while uncertainty surrounds the future of renewables. Meanwhile a lack of clarity remains in terms of foreign trade agreements. Read More

• Fly ash proppant testing validates LWP’s technology IM July-August 2016

  Superior proppant qualities demonstrated, with low cost tech and lower transportation distances ideal for market downturn. Read More