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November 2018
13 November 2018
Frac sand miner Hi-Crush will provide Northern White frac sand to Chesapeake Energy for use in North America’s Marcellus and Powder River basins.
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13 November 2018
Fastmarkets IM is making amendments to the specifications of to four of its soda ash prices.
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13 November 2018
Titanium dioxide producer Kronos attributed a drop in third-quarter volumes to customers drawing down their own stocks.
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13 November 2018
Growth in the region's steel consumption next year will be in line with slow improvements in the region's economic growth, the accusation has predicted.
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12 November 2018
Market participants active in the chemical chromite sector are assessing the performance of spreads between 43-44% UG2 chemical grade and higher purity 46% chromite prices, to gauge whether spreads may close again in the coming months.
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12 November 2018
US soda ash producer Ciner Resources earnings have been affected again by unforeseen events, for a second consecutive quarter, resulting in lower production and lower sales.
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12 November 2018
Australian producer Altura has secured an offtake agreement with Ganfeng for the supply of 70,000 tonnes per year of lithium spodumene.
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12 November 2018
Trade log for battery-grade lithium carbonate in China including trades, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.
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12 November 2018
The $1.2 billion acquisition of the idled operation will not ease tightness in China's alumina market in the short term - production is not due until the first quarter of next year.
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12 November 2018
China’s output and sales of new energy vehicles rose further last month
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09 November 2018
Acidspar prices plateau other than in China; GLOBAL LITHIUM WRAP: Upcoming contract price negotiations suspend global lithium prices; Calcined alumina prices rise as negotiations intensify; Graphite import prices into Europe fall on continued weak demand.
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09 November 2018
The lack of movement again in acidspar prices this week adds weight to the argument that markets have levelled off, although Chinese market participants reported further domestic prices continuing to rise.
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09 November 2018
Global lithium prices have stabilized ahead of 2019 contract price negotiations after 10 months of a downward price trajectory.
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08 November 2018
Market participants have largely priced in the decision, which had been made at state level in March, while Chinese prices continue at elevated levels on a domestic tightness.
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08 November 2018
Australian miner Syrah will provide natural graphite from its mine in Mozambique to Qingdao Taida-Huarun.
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07 November 2018
US titanium dioxide producer Tronox has a possible new buyer for the proposed divestment of the Cristal-owned TiO2 plant in the US, which it hopes will assuage the concerns of financial regulators.
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06 November 2018
In a trading update the company attributed its strong performance in the third quarter to increased refractory demand, adding it is protected from high raw materials prices in China due to its integrated business model.
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06 November 2018
The refractories producer issued an upbeat forecast thanks to rising global steel production.
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06 November 2018
Fastmarkets IM's monthly price movements.
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06 November 2018
The low water levels along the River Rhine have meant that the flow of raw materials supplies has diminished and has placed a premium on the sparse supply of cargo barges.
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05 November 2018
Altura ships the first 10,000 tonnes of lithium spodumene to China in October 2018.
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05 November 2018
Australia’s Tawana raises output of lithium spodumene by 63% in July-September quarter.
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05 November 2018
Indications point to an increase in prices for calcined alumina as contract negotiations enter the closing stages in what is looking to be primarily a sellers’ market.
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05 November 2018
Neometals achieves a 1.68% rise in production in the July-September quarter, although the volume exported to Chinese lithium producer Ganfeng went down by 4%.
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05 November 2018
The latest price assessments point to lower quotes for all the main high-purity grades of flake graphite traded in the region.
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02 November 2018
The Namibian natural flake graphite plant ran into problems during the ramp-up phase and, with prices softening, Imerys has decided to cease operations.
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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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02 November 2018
China’s domestic spot battery-grade lithium carbonate prices stabilized this week after last week's producer price increases brought a year-long downturn to an end.
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02 November 2018
Revenues from Chemours’ sales of titanium dioxide was down in the July-September quarter, despite higher prices, as buyers drew down inventories.
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01 November 2018
Frac-sand miner Atlas has made its first deliveries from a new mine in West Texas and expects a quick ramp-up to full capacity.
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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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01 November 2018
A section of Cristal Mining's Ginkgo heavy mineral sand floating wet concentration plant is below water, with no indication yet on down-time or how this may affect the miner’s rutile and zircon production.
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01 November 2018
Cristal’s much anticipated Saudi Arabian Ilmenite Smelter Project has encountered a technical issue, setting its start-up back to the second half of 2019.
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October 2018
31 October 2018
French multinational industrial minerals group Imerys is looking at options to divest its ceramic proppant business.
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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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31 October 2018
MZI has set new quarterly sales, ore mined, and heavy mineral concentrate production records, but is yet to deliver sustained L88 recovery levels above historic averages.
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31 October 2018
The one-week strike at Iluka's Sierra Leone operations has caused Iluka to lower its rutile production guidance for the second time this year.
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30 October 2018
Titanium-dioxide maker Venator reports a loss after demand for titanium dioxide retreats.
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30 October 2018
Titanium dioxide junior TNG hands over distribution to trader DKSH.
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30 October 2018
Iofina’s CEO rejects claims that the company has approached North American companies with cut-price derivatives after an anti-dumping tariff was enacted in China, and says that the company has instead focused its sales efforts on raw iodine.
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30 October 2018
Orocobre production was down in the September quarter, but higher average prices were achieved.
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29 October 2018
The number of drilled but uncompleted wells in the Permian Basin is at a record high, which means bad news for companies selling frac sand.
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29 October 2018
Annual soda ash contracts for 2019 are currently being discussed, with the latest market assessment by Fastmarkets showing at $10 per tonne increase in the price.
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29 October 2018
One hurdle to the restart of operations at the Hydro’s bauxite residue deposit area has been cleared but a federal embargo remains in place
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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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29 October 2018
High ore throughput at Mineral Commodities’ Tormin mine was needed to keep heavy mineral sand production rates stable this quarter, with the company reporting about a 10% increase in zircon/rutile and ilmenite concentrate prices.
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26 October 2018
Fastmarkets IM is opening a market consultation to seek feedback on its proposal to discontinue one soda ash price.
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26 October 2018
The fundamentals of the iodine market have pushed prices steadily higher over the past year, a trend that has continued in the latest price assessment.
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26 October 2018
Aggressive fluorspar price increases continue as China prices jump, China’s domestic magnesia prices up on reduced supply but export prices unchanged, GLOBAL LITHIUM WRAP: China’s battery-grade lithium carbonate prices strengthen, Rutile market to tighten further after strike action at Iluka’s Sierra Leone operation
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26 October 2018
Prices for fluorspar in China have become the latest to show a sharp spike, continuing a global uptrend over recent months owing to a tight balance of supply and demand.
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26 October 2018
Select Sands has put workers on leave and scrapped expansion plans after a slump in sales volumes
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26 October 2018
China’s domestic spot battery-grade lithium carbonate prices have started to move up this week after continuous price decreases since November 2017 due to reduced production from Qinghai, stronger industrial-grade lithium carbonate prices and lower stocks of lithium compounds.
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26 October 2018
Trade log for battery-grade lithium carbonate in China including trades, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.
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25 October 2018
US miner Hi-Crush has warned that frac sand prices are under pressure due to slow completions activity.
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25 October 2018
The six-day shutdown at Hydro's Alunorte refinery has hit the company's alumina output.
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25 October 2018
Image and Melior commences wet commissioning; Sheffield is construction ready, but requires new funds.
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24 October 2018
The Russian federal government will oversee the restart of a titanium dioxide plant in the disputed region of Crimea.
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24 October 2018
Falling spot prices for frac sand have affected US Silica's sales revenues in the third quarter of 2018.
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24 October 2018
Norsk Hydro’s third-quarter earnings were up from a year ago due to higher all-in aluminium and alumina prices, but a continued production curtailment at the company’s Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil continues to have a negative impact.
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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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24 October 2018
There were mixed results in Iluka Resources’ third-quarter review released on Wednesday October 24, with weaker-than-expect rutile production, stable synthetic rutile output and strong zircon production – all three of which are experiencing strong market conditions, according to the company.
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23 October 2018
Sales of high-purity chromite have dropped after reaching a three-year peak in April, with production output appearing to stabilize following a long decline. Chemical-grade chromite prices have adjusted downward, while foundry grades held stable.
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23 October 2018
Chilean development agency Corfo has applied to the ICC for an interpretation of its contract with lithium producer Albemarle.
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23 October 2018
US short-line railroad operator OmniTrax will upgrade its frac sand handling capacity in a joint venture to be called ShaleTECH.
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23 October 2018
The results of this discussion could mean chemicals used in the production of lead batteries are added to a list and an end date for their use set.
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23 October 2018
The partnership is centered around battery materials supply and facilities.
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23 October 2018
Strike action at Iluka Resources’ Sierra Leone operation, resulting in a temporary halt in production, will likely exacerbate already tight rutile markets.
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23 October 2018
Argentinian crude steel production grew by 2.8% year on year in September, but was down 4.5% from the prior month's volume.
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22 October 2018
Crowded basins are driving a trend to drilling near existing wells, Schlumberger boss warns, and the result could be lower sand intensity.
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22 October 2018
Technical delays and logistical challenges slow down Chilean producer SQM’s lithium sales during July-September by 15%.
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22 October 2018
A section of Cristal Mining's Ginkgo heavy mineral sand floating wet concentration plant is below water, with no indication yet on down-time or how this may affect the miner’s rutile and zircon production.
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22 October 2018
As big players in the iron oxide pigment business reap the rewards of an upturn in the construction industry, Fastmarkets IM correspondent Myles McCormick takes a look at the state of the market.
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22 October 2018
Attendees discuss how market participants will secure supply for the coming year, and how prices are expected to perform going forward.
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22 October 2018
Key takeaways from the 61st International Colloquium on Refractories, held September 25-26 in Aachen, Germany
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22 October 2018
Fastmarkets IM Correspondent Sunder Singh looks at India's titanium dioxide supply and demand dynamics, as well as the future of the industry.
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22 October 2018
Tighter supply in the fluorspar market has put pressure on raw materials and fluorine-derived product prices, while new products and increasingly fragmented end-user markets are creating widespread uncertainty.
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22 October 2018
Iofina's CEO predicts stronger iodine prices for the rest of 2018, he told Fastmarkets IM.
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22 October 2018
Amid growing concern about the supply of titanium dioxide feedstocks, Fastmarkets examines the scarcity of these minerals and how processors are adapting to changes in availability.
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22 October 2018
A US court has stalled the takeover to give the FTC time to complete its own review of the deal.
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22 October 2018
No reason has been given for the termination of the deal that had been originally announced in March 2017.
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22 October 2018
Lynas is calling for fairness from the Malaysian government during its environmental investigation.
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22 October 2018
Graphite, magnesia, alumina and silicon carbide are excluded from the list of China-origin materials subject to a new US tariff, as are antimony, rare earths and barite. Pigments such as titanium dioxide will also be subject to the duty, as will refractory finished products, some ceramic minerals such as kaolin, and lithium.
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22 October 2018
SQM is citing risk to free competition in its opposition to China's Tianqi Lithium acquiring a 24% stake in the Chilean miner currently held by Canada's Nutrien.
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22 October 2018
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22 October 2018
Soda ash output in the United States has hit a 2018 high, will South American and Southeast Asian consumption is on an upward trend.
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22 October 2018
Letters seen by Fastmarkets IM call for titanium dioxide (TiO2) price increases of 5 cents per lb in the United States.
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22 October 2018
Concerns over uranium and thorium levels in mineral sand deposits were a key topic for delegates at this year’s ZIA conference held in Bangkok.
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19 October 2018
Antimony trioxide markets soften on low demand; All DBM kilns closed in Dashiqiao; China's domestic DBM prices up; Bauxite, fused alumina market in supply limbo in Q4; PRICING NOTICE: Discontinuation of micronised zircon, zircon opacifiers, zircon flour and fused zirconia prices; GLOBAL LITHIUM WRAP: Chinese producers raise battery-grade lithium carbonate offer prices; seaborne markets quiet; Iodine sellers looking to push prices closer to $28 per kg; Acidspar prices continue to rise, with contracts for 2019 settled early
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19 October 2018
Fastmarkets’ fluorspar price assessments in two markets have risen this week, which reflects the earlier-than-usual settlement of contracts for next year’s supplies, a sign of urgency among buyers.
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19 October 2018
With the iodine market undersupplied, sellers have been trying to push through a price rise to $27.50 per kg, although consumers are reluctant to accept a price that high.
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19 October 2018
Chinese domestic spot battery-grade lithium carbonate offering prices increased in the week to Thursday October 18, supported on falling producer stocks, but reported concluded deals remained within Fastmarkets’ current price ranges.
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19 October 2018
Cuadrilla has commenced fracking activities in the UK, opening up the potential for further frac sand demand.
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18 October 2018
Galaxy Resources produced 35% less lithium spodumene in the third quarter due to lower feed grade, higher proportion of weathered ore and reduced recovery rates.
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18 October 2018
Spreads among some bauxite grades are widening while BFA, WFA prices remain stable on limited demand, although participants are concerned over supply flows from China in 2019.
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18 October 2018
Base Resources’ rutile and zircon output reached record highs in this year’s third quarter, while ilmenite production remained stable, after the successful implementation of the Kwale Phase 2 mine optimization project.
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18 October 2018
Rio Tinto increased its titanium slag production by 28% in the third quarter of the year, following supply disruptions in the prior quarter. The company also noted that labor disputes at its South Africa-based Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) operation are continuing.
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17 October 2018
Russian Mining has increased its capacity for magnesium hydroxide by 50% in line with growth in the flame retardants market, although alumina hydrate (ATH) remains the most widely used material in volume terms.
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17 October 2018
Here are eight key things Fastmarkets learned at the aluminium trade show in Dusseldorf on October 9-11 and during LME Week in London.
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17 October 2018
Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto has lowered its 2018 production guidance for aluminium by more than 4% due to an ongoing labor dispute at one of its Canada-based smelters.
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17 October 2018
Developing countries in Asia, excluding China, are expected to be the major drivers of steel demand growth in 2019, according to the chairman of the Worldsteel economics committee.
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17 October 2018
Kenmare Resources’ output of ilmenite, rutile and zircon declined in the third quarter of this year, despite higher volumes of ore mined. At the same time, persistent electricity supply issues resulted in higher costs for the producer.
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16 October 2018
Global antimony trioxide prices fell on low demand and weaker antimony metal prices.
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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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15 October 2018
China’s output and sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) kept increasing year-on-year in September, supported by the continuing upward momentum of the sector. But lithium prices kept falling on slow buying.
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15 October 2018
Industrial Minerals has today discontinued its micronised zircon, zircon opacifiers, zircon flour, and fused zirconia prices.
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12 October 2018
Chinese TiO2 prices fall further as yuan exchange rate slides; GLOBAL LITHIUM WRAP: Chinese battery-grade lithium carbonate, hydroxide prices soften after Golden Week; China's DBM price edges up on magnesia industry consolidation in Haicheng; PRICING NOTICE: Extending consultation period on proposal to amend soda ash prices
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12 October 2018
Concerns over water supplies, and sales that exceed production, have made market participants worry that the already-tight iodine market could move into undersupply unless SQM, the world’s largest producer, boosts its capacity utilization.
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12 October 2018
Chinese battery-grade lithium compound prices fell this week after market participants returned to the market from Golden Week, while other regions were unchanged in quiet conditions.
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12 October 2018
Iodine derivative producers have reported that they are unable to pass raw material price increases on to customers because they are being undercut in the market.
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12 October 2018
Domestic acidspar prices rose after Fujian province launched safety inspections on non-coal mines in Qingliu county, home to China's major fluorspar reserves.
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11 October 2018
Fears about access to sensitive information that could result in harm to both SQM and the market prompted the lithium producer to file a motion for reconsideration by Chile’s antitrust regulator.
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11 October 2018
TiO2 prices in China are under pressure from a weak yuan, and muted local demand.
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11 October 2018
US frac sand miner Vista Proppants is planning to begin new operations in Oklahoma and Texas.
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11 October 2018
Syrah's third-quarter production came below revised forecasts, it said in its activities report which also identified the cause of the fire at its Mozambique project.
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10 October 2018
The falling grade of available sand deposits will discourage new mining projects, Iluka sales boss warned conference delegates.
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10 October 2018
Market participants expect alumina prices to plunge below the psychological $500 per tonne level after the planned shutdown at the Alunorte refinery in Brazil was called off.
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10 October 2018
Steel mills in the northern Chinese steelmaking hub have received an order to halve production.
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10 October 2018
The Chinese titanium dioxide producer is in the middle of a massive chloride-route TiO2 capacity expansion.
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09 October 2018
Fastmarkets IM's monthly price movements.
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09 October 2018
US paint maker PPG has warned that its third-quarter earnings will show net sales steady year-on-year but reduced earnings per share, blaming rises in materials costs and weaker demand in China.
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09 October 2018
A Chilean court has approved an agreement between the country's antitrust regulator and Chinese lithium producer Tianqi, paving the way for its purchase of a 24% stake in SQM.
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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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09 October 2018
Production will halt at Syrah Resources' Balama graphite project for around five weeks after a fire damaged equipment at its processing plant
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08 October 2018
The mine, which produced its first ore earlier this year, has produced the first rare earth product from xenotime to be refined outside of China.
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08 October 2018
Market participants are waiting for this week's pharmaceuticals event to gauge market sentiment and see where prices might settle for the remainder of the year.
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08 October 2018
Regional sand supply and peak sand intensity is finally starting to balance the frac sand market, but cheapness still trumps quality.
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08 October 2018
The Alunorte alumina refinery will resume operations on the authorization of the Brazilian government.
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05 October 2018
Fastmarkets IM has extended the consultation period regarding its proposal to refine specifications of its soda ash prices.
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05 October 2018
Supply and demand outlooks and predictions for where prices will be in 2019, as well as expectations for traditional and new end-markets were all discussed at this year's fluorspar conference in South Africa.
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05 October 2018
The cif Rotterdam price has increased to $500 per tonne at the top end of the range as a result of consumer nervousness amid market tightness.
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05 October 2018
In a world of razor-thin margins and fierce competition, there is unprecedented pressure to make better decisions faster.
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05 October 2018
Chinese domestic lithium compound prices were unchanged week on week on Thursday October 4 due to a national holiday, while spot prices in the other regions Fastmarkets assesses were softer on slow consumption and lower prices offered.
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05 October 2018
Letters seen by Fastmarkets IM call for titanium dioxide (TiO2) price increases of 5 cents per lb in the United States.
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04 October 2018
The Australian rare earth miner calls for "fairness, objectivity, and transparency" from the Malaysian government.
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04 October 2018
Key takeaways from the 61st International Colloquium on Refractories, held September 25-26 in Aachen, Germany
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04 October 2018
Strong European demand and weakness in China has resulted in steady zircon prices for the fourth quarter.
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04 October 2018
Rutile prices have strengthened this week due to tightened supply and strong demand, resulting in a narrowing price spread.
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03 October 2018
The supply and demand balance, acidspar and metspar end-use demand and areas of growth for fluorspar were among the leading themes discussed on the panel hosted by Fastmarkets IM at the latest fluorspar conference.
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03 October 2018
The tightness in the fluorspar market that has been experienced by producers globally and by consumers outside China so far this year meant that the country’s imports and exports of the commodity were a key topic of discussion at Fastmarkets IM’s fluorspar conference.
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03 October 2018
Global antimony trioxide market prices have remained unchanged this week on low trading levels due to the Golden Week holiday in China.
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03 October 2018
China’s month-on-month new electric vehicles (NEV) sales rebounded in August after month-on-month declines in June and July.
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03 October 2018
The alumina refinery has halted all operations, having maintained 50% production since March.
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03 October 2018
Strandline Resources has announced it has secured a binding offtake agreement for 100% of its rutile production with Industrial Minerals and Metals Ltd (IMMCO), and will use prevailing welding market prices as its sale price.
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02 October 2018
Prices for chemical-grade chromite were stable in China and Asia this week on low activity, although the market took differing views on the level of demand for foundry sand.
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02 October 2018
Pilbara Minerals completes first lithium spodumene shipment four years after drilling the first hole at the Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project.
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02 October 2018
Image Resources has increased the certainty of product sales by modifying its existing offtake contract with Shantou Natfort Zirconium and Titanium Co Ltd (Natfort) to allow for a new offtake agreement to be signed with Hainan Wensheng High-Tech Materials Co Ltd (Wensheng).
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01 October 2018
For the fourth year since 2011, there was a permanent reduction in the global supply of fluorspar in 2017, resulting in shortness of material and price increases, factors which were among the main topics at conversation at Industrial Minerals’ annual fluorspar event.
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01 October 2018
US frac sand giant Covia has reduced its out-of-basin frac sand capacity, calling it a “necessary step,” even as it plans to ramp up in-basin capacity.
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01 October 2018
Divestment talks between titanium dioxide producers Tronox and Venator continue, as the former looks to make divestments to placate US anti-trust regulators.
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01 October 2018
Chinese producer Ganfeng has signed a lithium supply agreement with BMW ahead of its Hong Kong share offering.
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01 October 2018
Frac sand miner Select Sands is the latest to report waning demand for high-grade material.