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April 2020
02 April 2020
Most prices were steady in the graphite markets in China and Europe over the past week, but demand was softening under the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on global logistics.
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02 April 2020
Calcined alumina prices remained stable in early April after a decline over previous months, with both producers and consumers assessing the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic for local operations.
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02 April 2020
Trade log for battery-grade lithium carbonate in China including trades, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.
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02 April 2020
Fastmarkets is proposing to amend the frequency to two of its soda ash prices.
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02 April 2020
Spain's Ministry of Industry, Trade & Tourism has finally confirmed the steel industry is considered “essential” and can continue operating, albeit at a slower pace, the Spanish steel distributors association, UAHE, said on Wednesday April 1.
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01 April 2020
Silicon carbide prices for refractory applications weakened in the month ended Tuesday March 31 because the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic consequences hit demand for the material in end-markets.
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01 April 2020
Antimony trioxide prices edged lower in the seven days to Tuesday March 31 in response to dwindling demand due to the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.
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01 April 2020
A government-decreed lockdown in India has resulted in closed factories and import and export markets stalled by a lack of workers for the transport and processing of goods.
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01 April 2020
The total output of refractory materials in China increased by 3.7% year-on-year to 24.31 million tonnes in 2019. But most refractory raw materials prices were still under downward pressure.
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01 April 2020
China will extend the new energy vehicle (NEV) purchase subsidy and purchase tax exemption policy for two years in an effort to support consumption and mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy.
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March 2020
31 March 2020
A lockdown in South Africa in response to the Covid-19 pandemic left the chromite chemical and foundry markets stable on Tuesday March 31.
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31 March 2020
An extended production shutdown threatens the supply of rare earth magnets used in ventilators, Lynas has warned.
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31 March 2020
Australian graphite producer Syrah Resources reported a heavy annual loss owing to lower year-on-year electric vehicle sales growth in China during the second half of the year and an increase in the supply of battery raw material.
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31 March 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic has opened up financing opportunities for metals and mining-focused investment firms. It’s also created a problem.
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31 March 2020
Maersk Line, the world’s biggest container shipping company, will be suspending its North Europe (AE2) and Mediterranean (AE20) services on the Asia-Europe network during the second quarter of 2020.
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30 March 2020
Oil drilling activity in the United States has fallen sharply with the price of the commodity tumbling, which will in turn sap the demand for frac sand and other oilfield minerals.
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30 March 2020
Shipments of bauxite and fused alumina from China dropped by more than 30% in January and February this year, under the combined effects of the extended lunar new year holiday and the Covid-19 pandemic that has disrupted operations and logistics in most parts of the East Asian country.
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30 March 2020
Australian materials technology company Archer has successfully produced and tested high-value coated spherical graphite (CSG), the company reported in a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) on Monday March 30.
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30 March 2020
China’s fluorspar acidspar market started to weaken over the week to Thursday March 26 due to increasing spot material supply and thin buying after several weeks of standing firm, leading producers to lower prices slightly.
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27 March 2020
Australian graphite producer Syrah Resources has announced that it will suspend graphite production at its Balama site in Mozambique from Saturday March 28.
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27 March 2020
The Chinese domestic spot battery-grade lithium hydroxide price fell by 3.7% on Thursday March 26 after nearly four months' stability, while markets in the rest of the world were subdued due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
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27 March 2020
Australian graphite producer Syrah Resources announced overnight it will suspend graphite production at its Balama site in Mozambique from Saturday March 28.
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27 March 2020
South African miner Tharisa has declared force majeure on its contracted chrome concentrate sales agreements in response to the nationwide lockdown announced this week.
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27 March 2020
The publication of Fastmarkets’ lithium global contract and spodumene price assessments for March 25 were delayed because of an error in the peer review process.
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26 March 2020
Key data from the graphite pricing sessions in Asia and Europe for the week ended Thursday March 26.
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26 March 2020
Trade log for battery-grade lithium carbonate in China including trades, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.
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26 March 2020
Australian exploration company Infinity Lithium has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a multi-staged investment and assistance package to secure funding for its San Jose lithium project in Spain.
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26 March 2020
Global crude steel production rose 2.8% year on year in February, according to the Worldsteel Association (Worldsteel), with a strong performance from steel mills in China.
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25 March 2020
Australian lithium spodumene concentrate producer Pilbara Minerals said on Wednesday March 25 that it has secured a five-year offtake agreement to supply spodumene concentrate from its Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project in Western Australia to Chinese lithium manufacturer Yibin Tianyi.
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25 March 2020
South Africa’s andalusite producers are in the process of closing their mining operations in the country for three weeks in line with a government directive to contain the spread of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the country.
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25 March 2020
The Chinese market for dead burned magnesia (DBM) softened over the week to Wednesday March 25 due to a lack of downstream buying and strong stock levels, with the spread of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic curbing global demand.
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25 March 2020
Australian graphite producer Syrah Resources has temporarily suspended operations at its battery anode material project in the United States and removed its production target for flake graphite in 2020.
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25 March 2020
Antimony trioxide prices in Europe and the United States held steady in the week ending Tuesday March 24, even as demand weakened amid the intensification of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, with some suppliers reportedly unwilling to drop their offers.
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24 March 2020
South Africa’s troubled chromite industry appeared to have been temporarily halted by the decision announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday March 23 to impose a stoppage on the operations of the country’s mining sector.
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24 March 2020
South African state transport operator Transnet has confirmed that all the country’s bulk terminals will be closed to minerals shipments under a three-week government-ordered lockdown amid the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic.
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24 March 2020
South African platinum and chrome miner Tharisa will cease mining after its night shift on Wednesday March 25 in response to a government-imposed three-week lockdown amid the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
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24 March 2020
China Minmetals has restarted operations at its graphite project in Luobei county, Heilongjiang province, after the normal seasonal shutdown and the extended break to help contain the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic. This marks the earliest operation restart in the past 10 years in the area, one of China’s major production hubs for small flake graphite.
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24 March 2020
Rio Tinto has closed its mineral sands and titanium slag operation at Richards Bay Minerals in South Africa, after the country’s government issued an order intended to contain the spread of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic.
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24 March 2020
The spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is causing disruption to immediate supply chains and future demand forecasts across the technology and consumer electronics sector.
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24 March 2020
Mining companies in South Africa are in emergency meetings after the country’s president ordered a three-week lockdown amid the spread of novel coronavirus (2019-nCov).
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24 March 2020
South Africa will enter a 21-day nationwide lockdown from midnight on Thursday March 26 and ordered the country’s metals and mining operations to be placed on care and maintenance.
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24 March 2020
Major lithium producer Tianqi Lithium Corp has postponed the commissioning of the first phase of its battery-grade lithium hydroxide processing plant in Kwinana, Western Australia, due to rising liquidity issues following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
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23 March 2020
Argentina’s lithium brine industry have announced that they will suspend their on-site project works until the end of March after the Argentinian government imposed a nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the country.
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23 March 2020
Rare earths producer Lynas Corp has put its processing plant in Malaysia into care and maintenance in response to travel restrictions intended to control the spread of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic.
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23 March 2020
Fastmarkets will continue to provide the price data, news and analytics you rely on in these turbulent times.
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23 March 2020
ArcelorMittal’s sourcing business has declared force majeure on contracts amid the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Europe, according to a letter seen by Fastmarkets.
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20 March 2020
Fastmarkets has amended the specifications of three of its titanium dioxide prices and discontinued one price.
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20 March 2020
The world’s largest steelmaker, ArcelorMittal, has announced that it intends to reduce steel output at its European plants due to the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, the company said on Thursday March 19.
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20 March 2020
Poor availability has continued to support prices for refractory-grade bauxite over the past fortnight, while the price for white fused alumina (WFA) ticks upward and brown fused alumina (BFA) remains flat.
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20 March 2020
The Chinese domestic spot battery-grade lithium carbonate price fell by 2.1% on Thursday March 19 hitting a new low, with more European carmakers closing production due to the spread of the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and market participants feeling increasing pressure on the whole market.
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19 March 2020
The plummeting of share prices among companies in the battery supply chain due to the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic is reversing the gains achieved after China’s announcement of its policy on electric-vehicle subsidies, indicating weak sentiment toward the market.
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19 March 2020
Key data from the graphite pricing sessions in Asia and Europe for the week ended Thursday March 19.
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19 March 2020
While countries start to lock down their borders to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), mining companies are beginning to halt production, delay projects and withdraw staff.
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19 March 2020
ArcelorMittal Poland had decided to postpone the restart of its blast furnace (BF) at its Krakow plant, the company said on Tuesday March 17.
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19 March 2020
Automotive manufacturers in Europe have announced temporary production shutdowns at sites throughout the continent, because of the problems being created by the measures taken by governments to restrict the spread of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus outbreak.
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19 March 2020
More European steel producers have announced production cuts and equipment stoppages because of the measures being taken to combat the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 18.
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18 March 2020
China’s magnesia prices remained largely rangebound this week on concerns about the potential impact of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) on global demand.
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17 March 2020
Antimony trioxide prices in Europe and the United States have remained mostly steady over the seven days to Tuesday March 17, with the market staying flat and no new business activity reported.
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17 March 2020
European car manufacturers have announced temporary stoppages at production sites across Europe due to the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, Fastmarkets learnt on Monday March 16.
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17 March 2020
European car manufacturers have announced temporary stoppages at production sites across Europe due to the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, Fastmarkets learnt on Monday March 16.
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17 March 2020
Rare earth miner Northern Minerals has resumed shipments to China, after a prolonged disruption due to the outbreak of 2019n-CoV coronavirus, reporting “no discernible change in demand” for rare-earth ores.
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17 March 2020
China’s leading anode material producer, BTR New Material (BTR), has reported year-on-year growth in revenue in 2019 supported by expansion in the anode material field and a good seaborne market, according to its annual report released on Friday March 13.
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17 March 2020
China’s crude steel output increased in the first two months of the year despite the spread of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) across the country in February, according to data released by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday March 16.
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16 March 2020
Galaxy Resources expects to meet its production target of around 14,000-17,000 dry metric tonnes (dtm) of lithium concentrate for the first quarter of 2020 at its Western Australia spodumene project, Mt Cattlin, following the resumption of activities there in February.
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13 March 2020
Chinese exports of flake graphite (HS Code: 25041010) dropped by 15% to 114,330 tonnes in 2019 from 134,722 tonnes in 2018, according to official but unconfirmed data seen by Fastmarkets.
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13 March 2020
The Chinese domestic spot battery-grade lithium carbonate prices stabilized temporarily on Thursday March 12 after a slight decrease last week. Market in other regions outside of China remained flat with market participants worrying about economy slowdown due to the spread of nCov-2019 (coronavirus) globally.
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13 March 2020
Flake graphite prices for +894 and +194 grades rose in the week to Thursday March 12 amid continued logistical disruptions in Heilongjiang province brought about by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and seasonal suspensions in the province.
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12 March 2020
Global trade is being slowed down by the sluggish recovery of China’s logistics sector, with a build-up of containers at the country’s ports creating problems around the world.
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12 March 2020
Key data from the graphite pricing sessions in Asia and Europe for the week ended Thursday March 12.
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12 March 2020
UK-headquartered junior miner Armadale Capital has ramped up its forecast for annual production from its Mahenge Liandu graphite project in Tanzania.
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12 March 2020
Assore is proposing to buy back its shares and delist from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) after 70 years as a listed company, the South African mining group said on Monday March 9.
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12 March 2020
The United Kingdom government revealed plans to invest over £1 billion ($1.3 billion) on green transport, including £500 million for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure over the next five years, in its 2020 budget announcement on Wednesday March 11.
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12 March 2020
The output and sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China fell by over 75% year on year in February 2020 due to the suspension of operations during the peak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
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11 March 2020
Rare earth junior Arafura has announced a major increase to the estimated life-of-mine at its Nolans project in Australia’s Northern Territory.
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11 March 2020
Australian lithium miner Argosy Minerals has announced that it will ship a 5-tonne trial cargo of high quality >99.5% lithium carbonate to Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp RtM by the end of March.
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11 March 2020
Tumbling oil prices and plummeting oilfield company shares are flashing a warning sign for oilfield mineral demand.
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10 March 2020
Most antimony trioxide prices in the United States and Europe edged downward in the week to Tuesday March 10 because of weak demand. But some European market participants spoke of continuing disruptions to supply chains created by a lack of available containers for shipping.
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10 March 2020
Major frac sand miner Covia has reported falling sales, with the US fracking market under pressure, and miners struggling with oversupply.
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10 March 2020
Beijing has taken measures to resuscitate its sluggish logistics sector by cutting port fees in a bid to encourage businesses to increase their import and export activities.
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10 March 2020
The Shandong provincial government in China has removed its restrictions on the resumption of industrial operations based on the individual situations of the 1,268 companies in the province, according to a recent government statement on economic development and the fight against the 2019-nCoV coronavirus infection.
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10 March 2020
Iodine sellers were testing buyers with spot market offers above Fastmarkets' range, but the price held steady due to a lack of confirmed deals.
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09 March 2020
The specialty alumina market continues to suffer bearish pressure of weak end market conditions and high availability, forcing suppliers to give in to price cuts to move volumes.
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09 March 2020
The acquisition expands the Fastmarkets’ price reporting business into agriculture.
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09 March 2020
Member mills of the China Iron & Steel Association (Cisa) cut their daily steel output rates and stock levels in late February, but spot market inventories continued to rise, according to data released late on Thursday March 5.
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06 March 2020
Bauxite prices in China have increased again over the past fortnight on low restart rates of mining and calcination activities in producing areas, market participants said.
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06 March 2020
Chinese sellers continued to look for higher acidspar prices this week but there were question marks over whether there was any material that could be readily exported, meaning that the price held firm on Thursday March 5.
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06 March 2020
The battery-grade lithium carbonate price in China broke its steady streak in the week to Thursday March 5 after producers cut offers to meet cash flow needs, while European and US battery-grade prices fell by over 4% week on week.
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05 March 2020
Mineral sands trading activity is looking slow but prices appear to have stabilized heading into the last month of the quarter, in line with market expectations in February.
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05 March 2020
Key data from the graphite pricing sessions in Asia and Europe for the week ended Thursday March 5.
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05 March 2020
Fastmarkets proposes to discontinue the separate publication of midpoints for its price assessments for technical, industrial and battery grades of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide in Asia.
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04 March 2020
Foundry grade chromite prices fell further over the past week amid ongoing bearish pressure in western markets, leading to a narrowing of the gap to chemical-grade material.
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04 March 2020
The chrome mine operated by Lanxess in South Africa has not been in operation for over two weeks as of the time of writing, with a restart expected next week, Fastmarkets has learned.
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04 March 2020
China’s magnesia market declined over the week to March 3 on weak buyer appetite and sufficient stocks despite current higher transportation costs amid the coronavirus (2019-nCoV ) outbreak.
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04 March 2020
Chilean lithium producer Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM) warned of the likely negative consequences of the coronavirus outbreak on lithium pricing and sales in China in the first quarter of 2020, while reporting falls in both revenue and profits in 2019 due to weak demand.
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04 March 2020
Antimony trioxide prices in the United States spike on fears over delays in production and shipping from mainland China due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
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03 March 2020
Image Resources has resumed the sale of heavy mineral concentrate from its Boonanarring mine in Western Australia, after demand was stalled by the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) shutdown.
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03 March 2020
Prices for soda ash in Europe and the United States have softened against a backdrop of weaker demand in export markets, resulting in a build-up of product in those regions’ domestic markets – which are also experiencing weak demand.
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02 March 2020
Australian rare earth miner Lynas has been granted a three-year license to continue operating its processing facility in Malaysia.
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02 March 2020
US frac sand miner Select Sand has forecast a sharp rise in demand for the first quarter of 2020.
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02 March 2020
China’s acidspar prices increased this week, with tighter supplies - caused by the response to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak - leading to higher offers.
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02 March 2020
The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) has issued 1,615 force majeure certificates to businesses in China affected by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCOV) outbreak.