Ceramics/Glass latest news

• March 2021

  BFA stable on uncertain outlook; bauxite firm on high demand

  05 March 2021

  Prices of brown fused alumina (BFA) were firm during the two weeks to Thursday March 4, with market participants' views differing on the market's performance. White fused alumina (WFA), meanwhile, slipped and bauxite was stable.

• Andalusite market ticks up on costlier shipping, clearer sentiment

  01 March 2021

  Higher logistics costs and a steadier flow of inquiries have supported the andalusite market in the three months to Thursday February 25.

• February 2021

  Solvay to 'carve out' soda ash business

  26 February 2021

  Solvay is to “carve out” its soda ash business unit and form a new independently-run entity, it said in its full-year results report on Wednesday February 24.

• AT A GLANCE: Nabaltec reports improvement in Q4 revenue, sees recovery in 2021

  25 February 2021

  German specialty alumina supplier Nabaltec AG expects single-digit revenue growth in 2021 after achieving an increase in the fourth quarter of last year, according to preliminary results released on Thursday February 25.

• Bauxite price spread narrows, WFA ticks up as BFA firm

  19 February 2021

  Refractory-grade bauxite prices showed a reduction this week from previously wider spreads, with China gradually returning to the market after the Lunar New Year holiday, while white fused alumina (WFA) ticked upward on higher operational costs and brown fused alumina (BFA) held firm.

• Chromite prices tick up in attempt to keep up with met grade rally

  10 February 2021

  Spot market prices for non-metallurgical chromite edged up in the week to Tuesday February 9 after suppliers sought to follow the rally in met grade chrome ore and ferro-chrome.

• Bauxite price spread widens, WFA up on higher costs, BFA flat

  05 February 2021

  Prices spread for certain grades of bauxite widened in the fortnight to Thursday February 4 on differing availability options from suppliers, while the price of white fused alumina (WFA) moved up on higher costs and brown fused alumina (BFA) held firm on bullish sentiment.

• COMMENT: Biden’s turn to American manufacturing will boost minerals, metals demand, projects

  04 February 2021

  The change in direction on the part of the new United States administration with a higher focus on domestic manufacturing and local supply chains will benefit both established and developing minerals and metals sectors, including steel, rare earths, graphite and lithium.

• Met chrome ore rally supports sentiment in chromite

  03 February 2021

  Firming sentiment across the chrome supply chain supported prices for chemical- and foundry-grade chromite this past week despite limited overall liquidity.

• Spot European soda ash cargoes emerge in long market after pandemic

  03 February 2021

  After a year of weak demand for soda ash, "excess" spot cargoes have been offered out of Europe to as far afield as South Africa, market participants told Fastmarkets.

• Peru’s andalusite operations to continue amid latest lockdown

  01 February 2021

  The latest coronavirus lockdown declared in Peru by local authorities will not affect andalusite mining operations in the country, Fastmarkets has learned.