-
Chinese exports of refractory-grade bauxite increased by 51.58% year on year in the first seven months of 2021, while shipments of white and brown fused alumina (WFA, BFA) rose by 52.37% and 26.34% respectively over the same period.
Read More
-
China’s amorphous graphite price has widened downward over the past month on mixed market sentiment brought about by slow downstream demand in China but stronger demand in seaborne markets.
Read More
-
Demand for Chinese magnesia is expected to weaken, due to the country's steel production curbs in the second half of 2021, while logistics delays and rising freight fees increase in interest in material from other origins.
Read More
-
Tightness in the availability of andalusite, caused by logistical issues affecting delivery schedules on key shipping routes, is being exacerbated by strong demand from the downstream refractories sector.
Read More
-
Welcome to the September 2021 issue of Metal Market Magazine, where we look at the performance and outlook of the main refractory mineral raw materials.
Read More
-
Welcome to the July-August 2021 issue of Metal Market Magazine, where we investigate the strong market fundamentals driving titanium dioxide this year, and the evolution of supply and demand in non-metallurgical chromite.
Read More
-
Growing demand for the multiple products that depend on titanium dioxide for their manufacture is driving rising output and revenue for its producers, but that is also raising questions about the future supplies of the feedstock materials they need, as William Clarke reports.
Read More
-
China’s metallurgical chrome market rally in June-July triggered a boost for foundry chromite at the end of July. This could prompt a demand shift from domestic screened material to South African foundry chromite. Sybil Pan and Siyi Liu report.
Read More
-
The non-metallurgical chromite market has been dogged so far in 2021 by the long-tail effects of oversupply built up from previous years and insufficient demand rallies, but recent developments may speed up the sector’s recovery, as Davide Ghilotti reports.
Read More
-
The chief executive officer of Kudumane Manganese Resources, Thembelani Gantsho, is passionate about the opportunities for South African mining. He spoke with Janie Davies about his first-hand experience of funding and operating a new mine, and the outlook for the nation’s mining industry.
Read More
-
China’s exports of acidspar have diminished while the domestic downstream market has been in overdrive, confirming China’s position as a net importer of acidspar for 2021.
Read More
-
Not for the first time, governments are focusing attention on supplies of rare earths as a vital resource for many areas of industry and technology. William Clarke reviews key international rare-earth supply chains and plans as the materials take center stage in a rush for new energy minerals
Read More
-
The steel and metals industries stress that their products are key to enabling solutions to address global environmental priorities. Myra Pinkham gathers international views on progress in ‘green’ transformation and asks what today’s environmental goals imply for industrial production and future demand
Read More
-
With responsibilities across Tata Steel’s diverse international portfolio of steelmaking assets, chief executive officer and managing director TV Narendran has a wide-ranging view of, and experience in, the global steel industry. He told Kunal Bose about the company’s strategy to thrive in a changing world for major steel producers
Read More
-
Welcome to the June 2021 issue of Metal Market Magazine, where we take an in-depth look into the supply chain and markets of rare earths and the evolution in global fluorspar supply and demand.
Read More
-
Glencore has well-established recycling activities and is extending its role as a key part of the circular economy, Glencore Recycling’s global commercial lead, Kunal Sinha said.
Read More
-
Marked by environmental regulation, differing cost bases and key producers restructuring their business models, the soda ash production landscape is taking a new shape.
Read More
-
Silicon carbide demand is expected to grow as its value in components increasingly needed
for power electronics is recognized, reports Cristina Belda.
Read More
-
GEM chairman Kaihua Xu has worked on building a path for recycling in China since the mid-1990s - he recalls the key steps and discusses the growth and outlook for one of China’s leading recycling businesses.
Read More
-
Welcome to the May 2021 issue of Metal Market Magazine, where we look at growth prospects for silicon carbide driven by power electronics applications and the evolution of soda ash production as companies reshape their business model.
Read More
-
Graphite company Syrah Resources plans to ramp up its flake output with a flexible approach to production, chief executive officer Shaun Verner told Jon Stibbs in late-February
Read More
-
The flake graphite market, especially for fines, looks set to come under pressure through 2021 while increasing supply outweighs the growth of demand, Jon Stibbs and Sybil Pan report.
Read More
-
Changing preferences for lithium-ion battery chemistries in China have altered relative lithium prices, Susan Zou and Carrie Shi report.
Read More
-
Lithium supply is set to be tight in 2021, despite a ramp-up in output, William Adams reports.
Read More
-
Welcome to the March 2021 issue of Metal Market Magazine, where we take stock of the latest developments in oilfield mineral markets, the outlook for steel tube and pipe and the US President Joe Biden administration's take on that country's supply chains.
Read More
-
The change in direction on the part of the new United States administration with a greater focus on domestic manufacturing and local supply chains will benefit established and developing industrial minerals as well as metals sectors, including steel, rare earths, graphite and lithium, Davide Ghilotti and Mark Shenk report.
Read More
-
Low oil prices and consequently much-reduced rig activity depressed demand for oilfield minerals last year, but the industry is staging a recovery in 2021, reports William Clarke
Read More
-
The international impacts of the Covid-19 global pandemic in 2020 were severe, but Fastmarkets’ tube and pipe research team* detect the early signs of market recovery during 2021 and forecast better years ahead.
Read More
-
In her early career, La Farga CEO Inka Guixà had not considered working for the business founded by her father and grandfather, but in her late-20s she accepted an invitation to join the company and assist in its expansion. She recounts her route to the top of the business and discusses the outlook for copper with Andrea Hotter.
Read More
-
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.
Read More
-
Calcined alumina suppliers hope the recent increase in demand they have noted will prompt a rebound in prices later in the year.
Read More
-
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.
Read More
-
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.
Read More
-
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.
Read More
-
More instances of “fake flake” graphite being sold as genuine material have been reported, especially as large flake sizes. Fastmarkets spoke with market sources to gauge this material’s effect on the market and its uses when sold correctly.
Read More
-
The recent surge in container freight costs and limited cargo space are disrupting flows and crushing traders’ profits.
Read More
-
Multiple push and pull factors continue to affect supply and demand for chromite, with market participants struggling to see beyond the immediate future.
Read More
-
Tighter controls on mining activity in China’s Liaoning province and strict environmental regulations have eased the oversupply of magnesia in the country, stirring up an optimistic price outlook for 2021.
Read More
-
Welcome to the January 2021 issue of Metal Market Magazine, where we include an analysis on the soaring freight costs out of China, the uncertain outlook for chromite, a tightening of magnesia supply and a focus on so-called ‘fake’ graphite.
Read More
-
Welcome to the November-December 2020 issue of Metal Market Magazine, where we feature a focus section on battery raw materials, especially lithium and its latest industry developments.
Read More
-
In ever more environmentally conscious times, the recyclability of steel and aluminium packaging has come to the fore around the full circle of the supply chain, reports Gregory DL Morris
Read More
-
As part of a strategy to diversify its activities, the Germany-based international plant builder and engineering business SMS group is applying its technological expertise to processing ores and the means to recycle lithium batteries. Chief technology officer Hans Ferkel and senior vice president for strategic project development Herbert Weissenbaeck discuss the group’s plans and progress with Richard Barrett
Read More
-
When Fastmarkets held its major digital conference about lithium supply and markets in late October, its reporters captured highlights of the event. The supply chain from mining through to recycling, investments, market fundamentals, prices and price risk management were covered and here we bring together a summary of the key points
Read More
-
Alba CEO Ali Al Baqali worked long and hard to get the qualifications and experience he needed to lead the major aluminium producer in Bahrain. Andrea Hotter discusses his path to the top with him and the company’s strategy now in challenging global markets for primary aluminium producers
Read More
-
Trafigura’s revenue was $171.5 billion in 2019, with group businesses in metals, oil, power & renewables and shipping. Andrea Hotter talks strategy with the chief executive officer, Jeremy Weir
Read More
-
Global demand for magnesia has fallen significantly due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with most magnesia prices falling to their lowest levels since before the market rally in 2017.
Read More
-
With government support for rare earths mining increasing, a growing number of miners – including mineral sands producers – now see value in a market that, for a long time, was effectively closed to non-Chinese producers due to its high costs and strict environmental regulations.
Read More
-
Price stabilization and inventory control are bearing fruit for titanium dioxide and mineral sand producers, even as Covid-19 rocks pigment markets.
Read More
-
Welcome to the October 2020 issue of Metal Market Magazine, where we delve into the markets of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and mineral sands, as well as rare earths and Chinese magnesia.
Read More
-
Welcome to the September 2020 issue of Metal Market Magazine, where we feature our usual annual insight into the refractories raw materials industry, including andalusite, bauxite, magnesia and fused alumina.
Read More