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November 2018
26 November 2018
Output of unshaped refractory materials in China rebounded slightly in October 2018, attributed to increasing production of alumina-silicon refractory materials.
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21 November 2018
The Haicheng government has released plans to restart magnesite mining in the region, with estimates it will permit exploring again after government checks next September.
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14 November 2018
More magnesia producers in China’s Liaoning province have stopped production, with inspectors from the country’s central government supervising adherence to environmental regulations. Domestic prices have become firmer, while export prices were unchanged on flat demand.
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02 November 2018
China’s daily crude steel output dips in mid-October, Magnesia prices firm as China launches a new environmental inspections, China’s crude stainless steel output up 8.5% in January-September, Market tightness reflected in rise in European soda ash contract price, PRICING NOTICE: Proposal to discontinue one soda ash price, Bottom end of spot iodine price range moves up for first time in 13 weeks, GLOBAL LITHIUM WRAP: China’s battery-grade lithium carbonate prices stabilize
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01 November 2018
Major Chinese steel mills cut their crude steel output mildly in the middle of October, while their finished steel inventories continued to rise.
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October 2018
31 October 2018
China’s government has begun a new round of environmental inspections of heavy industries. Magnesia prices are expected to stay firm while the main production centres in Liaoning are included in the inspections.
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31 October 2018
China’s crude stainless steel output increased in the first nine months of 2018 amid higher prices and healthy profit.
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29 October 2018
Unshaped refractory materials output in China fell slightly in September, attributed to lower production of alumina-silicon refractory materials.
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24 October 2018
Sector consolidation and environmental restrictions are propelling Chinese magnesia prices higher but lackluster foreign markets are keeping export prices steady for now.
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16 October 2018
Dashiqiao city in Liaoning province has shutdown all DBM kilns, pushing China’s domestic DBM prices up again, while export prices are stable on weak demand with only low-grade DBM edging up.
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09 October 2018
China’s dead-burned magnesia (DBM) prices showed a slight increase due to Haicheng province's consolidation plan for its magnesia industry being moved forward.
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September 2018
28 September 2018
Refractory products have been included in the list of materials subject to a new US tariff, and China’s refractory industry is recommending an ‘active’ response. Although refractory raw materials were not included this time, demand for these will be affected indirectly in the long term.
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26 September 2018
China's unshaped refractory materials output rose in August, supported by the strong demand downstream.
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25 September 2018
China’s domestic magnesia prices edged up due to stricter environmental regulations, while export prices stood still ahead of China’s National Day holidays.
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21 September 2018
Chromite market still quiet at Q3-end; Antimony metal price drives trioxide prices upward; China's magnesia prices firm on strict environmental inspections; PRICING NOTICE: Launch of frac sand price; Ilmenite price range widens downward in China, defying expectations; Industrial Minerals to track prices in booming frac sand market
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19 September 2018
Magnesia production hubs in China are continuing their efforts to reduce negative environmental impact, while domestic magnesia prices firm and export prices hold steady on low demand.
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13 September 2018
Haicheng's consolidation plan for its magnesia industry has made progress, with 42 companies to be consolidated at first, while magnesia prices temporarily hold steady.
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05 September 2018
Authorities in China’s magnesia production hub of Dashiqiao have shut down 87 local companies that did not meet new environmental standards. But despite this, China’s magnesia export prices stood still on thin buying.
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August 2018
29 August 2018
China’s magnesia market remained quiet, dragging mid-grade magnesia prices lower after suppliers cut their offer prices to achieve sales.
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28 August 2018
Prices of fused and caustic calcined magnesia in Europe have remained flat on low availability, but raw magnesite ore prices have edged upward.
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24 August 2018
Chinese magnesia export prices fell on sluggish trade and the lower value of the yuan against the dollar, while stockpiles gradually increased despite the ongoing mining restrictions.
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08 August 2018
Increasing demand for refractory materials pushed China’s refractories output up to 9.45 million tonnes in the first half of the year. Magnesia and graphite prices remained firm because of the knock-on effects of environmental regulations.
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03 August 2018
Several Chinese magnesia prices trended lower on soft demand and quiet buying activity. High-grade magnesia in particular saw price declines from several-month highs.
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July 2018
20 July 2018
GLOBAL LITHIUM WRAP: Battle over market share triggers price war; PRICING NOTICE: Extension of consultation period on proposal to discontinue fluorspar prices; China’s magnesia export prices steady but domestic prices soften; Chinese soda ash price edges down on oversupply; PRICING NOTICE: Discontinuation of kaolin pricing; factors converge to depress ilmenite import price in China
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18 July 2018
The prices of China’s magnesia exports were stable this week because of quiet buying during the summer slowdown, but domestic prices were on a downtrend, especially for low-grade products.
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09 July 2018
An uncertain outlook for magnesia products, financial losses and the burden of environmental regulations have put a price tag of $4.2 million on Haicheng Xinwei Lee Shing Magnesia Resources.
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06 July 2018
Sluggish demand, cheaper material weigh on China’s battery-grade lithium carbonate prices; Haicheng government set to dismantle polluting MgO kilns, but magnesia prices steady for now; European titanium dioxide prices down under heavy imports; Fluorspar market split on extent of China's environmental controls; Producers see higher soda ash prices on strong demand; Rutile prices increase, Tronox to cease external rutile, leucoxene sales by 2018 end; Silicon carbide production shutdowns in China push up European refractory prices; Have zircon prices peaked? Global antimony trioxide markets weaken, European prices stable
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04 July 2018
The local government of Haicheng in China’s Liaoning province has announced a plan to dismantle magnesia kilns which do not meet the latest environmental standards. But Chinese magnesia export prices are currently unchanged on quiet buying activity.
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June 2018
28 June 2018
The government of Haicheng in China’s Liaoning province has ratified a consolidation plan for the local magnesia industry aimed at streamlining a fragmented sector. For now, though, magnesia prices are steady this week in quiet buying conditions.
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25 June 2018
China’s output of refractory materials has risen to 7.80 million tonnes in the first five months of 2018, supported by increasing demand from downstream sectors.
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20 June 2018
China’s magnesia export prices are unchanged after the Dragon Boat Festival holiday (June 16-18) due to limited buying interest, with most buyers holding off and waiting for a clear market direction.
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13 June 2018
China’s magnesia export prices remained at current level without any fluctuation on thin buying activities from buyers. Market participants kept monitoring the market waiting for clearer direction on releasing the restriction on magnesite mining.
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05 June 2018
IM's monthly price movements.
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05 June 2018
Local authorities' plans to consolidate regional sector over the next four months have yet to have any discernible effect on local magnesia prices
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May 2018
25 May 2018
Increasing demand for some refractory materials and increasing output compared with last year pushed China’s refractories output to 4.76 million tonnes in the first quarter of the year, the first rise for two years.
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17 May 2018
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09 May 2018
Export prices for all grades of Chinese magnesia remained stable this week, despite the declining availability of spot materials, because magnesite mining has been halted since mid-April.
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08 May 2018
Shipments of all grades of magnesia were down in March, compared to March 2017, on thin buying interest from international buyers.
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April 2018
27 April 2018
Reduced demand weighs on Chinese domestic spot lithium carbonate prices; Strong carbonate, hydroxide monohydrate prices in China boosting spodumene prices in Q2; Upcoming holiday restricts Chinese graphite prices; seaborne antimony trioxide market softens amid depressed demand; chemical grade chromite price holds despite volatile UG2 prices; PRICING NOTICE: Discontinuation of diatomite; Chinese magnesia prices steady on halt in magnesite mining; PRICING NOTICE: Discontinuation of vermiculite prices
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25 April 2018
The stoppage to magnesite mining in Liaoning province continued this week, and with no confirmed news on when a restart will happen, magnesia export prices were unchanged on quiet buying activity.
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17 April 2018
A sudden government-ordered halt to magnesite mining in China’s main magnesia-producing province has triggered a rise in domestic prices, with exporters planning to raise export prices if the restriction continues.
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13 April 2018
Global spot iodine prices tick up on tight supply, bullish sentiment; PRICING NOTICE: Discontinuation of baddeleyite prices; China magnesia market stable while mining restrictions continue; Chinese antimony trioxide market softens amid fears of trade war; PRICING NOTICE: Extended consultation period for proposal to discontinue celestite price; Weak activity slows chemical chromite trading; foundry-grade spread increasing; PRICING NOTICE: Discontinuation of mica prices
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13 April 2018
IM's monthly price movements.
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11 April 2018
Prices in the global markets for magnesia products remained steady over the past week despite the challenges of mining restrictions, lackluster demand and reduced availability.
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06 April 2018
Tightening supply gives zircon, rutile prices a boost as Q2 gets underway; PRICING NOTICE: Discontinuation of wollastonite prices; Chinese lithium market remains slow but prices rise globally; Low-grade magnesia prices fall while stocks rise; Foundry chromite prices strengthen; chemical grade stable; PRICING NOTICE: Discontinuation of sulphur prices
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03 April 2018
Shipments of caustic calcined magnesia (CCM) and fused magnesia (FM) rose in February 2018 on an annual basis, while dead burned magnesia (DBM) exports fell slightly.
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March 2018
28 March 2018
See article below from the April issue of Industrial Minerals magazine, for market updates on price movements in various industrial minerals. Minerals featured this month include: magnesia, titanium dioxide, chromite, graphite, zircon, lithium and andalusite.
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28 March 2018
Chinese low-grade magnesia prices moved downward because of increasing stock levels amid thin buying activity among downstream refractory producers, while high-grade magnesia prices were unchanged on a lack of magnesite ore.
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14 March 2018
Chinese magnesia markets have seen limited transactions over the past week with demand muted and most overseas buyers reluctant to make deals because of firm prices.
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09 March 2018
Prices rise further in chemical, foundry grade chromite markets; High-grade DBM prices leap on lack of raw material; Lithium prices rise in China after new year break; Chinese TiO2 producers cite yuan appreciation as they push for price risesPrice Notices
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07 March 2018
There is a diverging trend between rising high-grade dead burned magnesia and falling low-grade material quotes, with raw material supply shortages putting pressure on DBM producers.
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February 2018
27 February 2018
IM's monthly price movements.
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01 February 2018
IM's monthly price movements.
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January 2018
26 January 2018
European magnesia prices firm in new contracts; Chinese fluorspar prices stay firm on limited output; Chinese lithium carbonate prices down; European prices increase
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23 January 2018
Deals for fused magnesia in Europe are being set at higher prices in the early part of the year, amid tightness and low availability in the market, with the price pressure also affecting agricultural caustic calcined products.
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12 January 2018
Fused alumina prices edge upward on supply squeeze; European green silicon carbide market sees small price move at 2018 start; Lack of Chinese soda ash for export keeps prices stable; Industrial Minerals proposes to discontinue its three bromine prices and three of its magnesia grades.
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08 January 2018
Industrial Minerals has discontinued three of its magnesia grades, effective January 5.