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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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Marked by environmental regulation, differing cost bases and key producers restructuring their business models, the soda ash production landscape is taking a new shape.
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Silicon carbide demand is expected to grow as its value in components increasingly needed
for power electronics is recognized, reports Cristina Belda.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Changing preferences for lithium-ion battery chemistries in China have altered relative lithium prices, Susan Zou and Carrie Shi report.
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Lithium supply is set to be tight in 2021, despite a ramp-up in output, William Adams reports.
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Welcome to the April 2021 issue of Metal Market Magazine, where we look at how lithium is getting hot again after a long price slump amid expected supply shortage issues, as well as the multiple pressure points that could hit the global graphite market.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Calcined alumina suppliers hope the recent increase in demand they have noted will prompt a rebound in prices later in the year.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The recent surge in container freight costs and limited cargo space are disrupting flows and crushing traders’ profits.
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Multiple push and pull factors continue to affect supply and demand for chromite, with market participants struggling to see beyond the immediate future.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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Price stabilization and inventory control are bearing fruit for titanium dioxide and mineral sand producers, even as Covid-19 rocks pigment markets.
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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.
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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.
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Refractory-grade bauxite prices have held firm due to tightening supply despite the uncertainties caused the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Low capacity utilization at China’s kilns for production of brown fused alumina was weighing heavily on the markets, driven by weak demand for refractories.
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The European magnesia markets have been very sluggish so far in 2020, with the Covid-19 pandemic striking while consumers were trying to cut back swollen inventories.
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The andalusite market has been rocked by a drop in supplies following closures related to the Covid-19 pandemic in producing countries, and a subsequent adjustment in demand in some consuming markets. But sources believe that a new balance is in sight.
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Welcome to the July-August 2020 issue of the Metal Market Magazine, where we look at supply and demand patterns for chromite and its foundry end uses, as well as an outlook for battery raw materials as automotive battles the coronavirus pandemic.
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Battery raw material prices were on lows for the year in mid-July and spot battery-grade lithium prices were also at multi-year lows, writes William Adams, Fastmarkets head of research for base metals and battery materials.
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Evolving market dynamics in foundry-grade chromite have reshaped trading patterns between South Africa and China, resulting in an almost silent market.
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The Covid-19 pandemic has reversed a long-term fall in chromite prices while supply dried up, but weak demand could cap continued price rises.
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Faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, mining executives are being forced to take swift action and make tough decisions as prices fall, economies contract and demand in key consuming industries declines.
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