Industrial Minerals

Refractories

Germany’s crude steel output down by 24% in April, WV Stahl says

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Crude steel production in Germany fell by 23.85% year-on-year in April due to production cuts made to reflect the drop in demand caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the German steel federation said this week.
Tightening supply supports weak foundry-grade chromite market

Tuesday, 26 May 2020

The foundry-grade chromite market rose in the week ended Tuesday May 26 in response to limited supply from South Africa, but price rises were damped by weak supply.
China’s port operations back to normal while weak demand weighs on container throughput

Monday, 25 May 2020

China’s ports have resumed normal operations but overseas demand for exported materials remains reduced by the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in lower container throughput. Most producers of refractory raw materials, however, continued to get limited orders from global buyers.
GLOBAL GRAPHITE SNAPSHOT: Expandable production in China tightens large flake market

Thursday, 21 May 2020

Key data from the graphite pricing sessions in Asia and Europe for the week ended Thursday May 21.

Agrimarkets

Producers push for iodine price rise despite pandemic effect on demand

Monday, 20 April 2020

Iodine producers are trying to impose a price increase but it was unclear whether consumers would accept an additional $0.50-1.00 per kg given the uncertainty about the longevity of the lockdowns in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Covid-19: A message from Fastmarkets CEO Raju Daswani

Monday, 23 March 2020

Fastmarkets will continue to provide the price data, news and analytics you rely on in these turbulent times.
Blooming cannabis market to drive demand for fertilizer minerals

Friday, 30 August 2019

Commercial cultivation of cannabis for medical uses is on the rise, with the sulfur, phosphate and potash sectors likely to benefit. But there are fears that the junior mining sector is suffering from a draining of potential investment.

Ceramics-Glass

Weaker demand hits China soda ash prices and causes production cuts and sales declines elsewhere

Friday, 22 May 2020

Chinese soda ash prices have hit a five-year low while Solvay and Ciner Resources achieved lower quarterly sales volumes, with the latter cutting its production by 20% - all as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Weak antimony trioxide prices in China push down overseas prices

Tuesday, 19 May 2020

Prices for antimony trioxide on a cif basis in Europe and the United States slumped in the seven days to Tuesday March 19 while bearishness in the Chinese market, the biggest exporter of the material, filtered into overseas prices.
BFA, WFA prices fall further on weak demand; bauxite stable

Friday, 15 May 2020

Fused alumina prices have fallen further during the two weeks to Thursday May 14 because of continued bearish pressure resulting from weak demand from refractories consumers, while bauxite prices remained flat on a largely muted export market and scarcity of supply in China.
Andalusite mining operations off to slow restart

Tuesday, 12 May 2020

Producers of andalusite in various countries have been able to restart operations after Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns, although they warned that a return to pre-closure output volumes will be slow and gradual.

Construction-Chemicals

Weaker demand hits China soda ash prices and causes production cuts and sales declines elsewhere

Friday, 22 May 2020

Chinese soda ash prices have hit a five-year low while Solvay and Ciner Resources achieved lower quarterly sales volumes, with the latter cutting its production by 20% - all as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Weak antimony trioxide prices in China push down overseas prices

Tuesday, 19 May 2020

Prices for antimony trioxide on a cif basis in Europe and the United States slumped in the seven days to Tuesday March 19 while bearishness in the Chinese market, the biggest exporter of the material, filtered into overseas prices.
BFA, WFA prices fall further on weak demand; bauxite stable

Friday, 15 May 2020

Fused alumina prices have fallen further during the two weeks to Thursday May 14 because of continued bearish pressure resulting from weak demand from refractories consumers, while bauxite prices remained flat on a largely muted export market and scarcity of supply in China.
Andalusite mining operations off to slow restart

Tuesday, 12 May 2020

Producers of andalusite in various countries have been able to restart operations after Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns, although they warned that a return to pre-closure output volumes will be slow and gradual.

Energy

WEBINAR: Six key themes in the battery raw material markets

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

From future raw material investments to China’s resurgence in lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery chemistries, Fastmarkets analysts and reporters consider six key discussion points dominating the battery and electric vehicle markets.
GLOBAL LITHIUM WRAP: Weak downstream markets keep prices stagnant

Friday, 22 May 2020

The Chinese domestic spot battery-grade lithium price stabilized on Thursday May 21 although downstream demand showed no improvement, while rest-of-world markets were flat amid thin trading opportunities.
AT A GLANCE: SQM reports big fall in Q1 2020 earnings on lower lithium prices, Covid-19

Wednesday, 20 May 2020

A summary of Chile-based Sociedad Quimiqa y Minera's (SQM) financial results for the first quarter of 2020, as stated in its earnings report published on Wednesday May 20.
Lithium producer Tianqi in talks with banks to ease debt terms

Monday, 18 May 2020

Chinese lithium producer Tianqi is in negotiation with banks to adjust the terms of its debt as the date on a key loan repayment nears, the company said on May 15 when answering investors' questions on an interactive platform.

Processing

Weak antimony trioxide prices in China push down overseas prices

Tuesday, 19 May 2020

Prices for antimony trioxide on a cif basis in Europe and the United States slumped in the seven days to Tuesday March 19 while bearishness in the Chinese market, the biggest exporter of the material, filtered into overseas prices.
Andalusite mining operations off to slow restart

Tuesday, 12 May 2020

Producers of andalusite in various countries have been able to restart operations after Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns, although they warned that a return to pre-closure output volumes will be slow and gradual.
Albemarle eyes Tianqi stake in Australian lithium mine, slows project spending

Monday, 11 May 2020

US-based lithium and speciality chemicals producer Albemarle said on Thursday May 7 that it was considering the acquisition of all or part of co-owner Tianqi’s share in the Greenbushes lithium mine in Western Australia.
BFA price drops to two-year low, WFA continues to fall

Thursday, 30 April 2020

Fused alumina prices have dropped significantly in the past fortnight, with brown fused alumina (BFA) falling to a two-year low and following the path of white fused alumina (WFA), which has lost value for a second consecutive assessment.

Logistics

AT A GLANCE: SQM reports big fall in Q1 2020 earnings on lower lithium prices, Covid-19

Wednesday, 20 May 2020

A summary of Chile-based Sociedad Quimiqa y Minera's (SQM) financial results for the first quarter of 2020, as stated in its earnings report published on Wednesday May 20.
Weak antimony trioxide prices in China push down overseas prices

Tuesday, 19 May 2020

Prices for antimony trioxide on a cif basis in Europe and the United States slumped in the seven days to Tuesday March 19 while bearishness in the Chinese market, the biggest exporter of the material, filtered into overseas prices.
Lithium producer Tianqi in talks with banks to ease debt terms

Monday, 18 May 2020

Chinese lithium producer Tianqi is in negotiation with banks to adjust the terms of its debt as the date on a key loan repayment nears, the company said on May 15 when answering investors' questions on an interactive platform.
GLOBAL GRAPHITE SNAPSHOT: Fine flake prices fall while market for larger sizes tightens

Thursday, 14 May 2020

Key data from the graphite pricing sessions in Asia and Europe for the week ended Thursday May 14.

Regulation

WEBINAR: Six key themes in the battery raw material markets

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

From future raw material investments to China’s resurgence in lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery chemistries, Fastmarkets analysts and reporters consider six key discussion points dominating the battery and electric vehicle markets.
Germany’s crude steel output down by 24% in April, WV Stahl says

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Crude steel production in Germany fell by 23.85% year-on-year in April due to production cuts made to reflect the drop in demand caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the German steel federation said this week.
Tightening supply supports weak foundry-grade chromite market

Tuesday, 26 May 2020

The foundry-grade chromite market rose in the week ended Tuesday May 26 in response to limited supply from South Africa, but price rises were damped by weak supply.
China’s port operations back to normal while weak demand weighs on container throughput

Monday, 25 May 2020

China’s ports have resumed normal operations but overseas demand for exported materials remains reduced by the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in lower container throughput. Most producers of refractory raw materials, however, continued to get limited orders from global buyers.

Oilfield

Frac sand price falls on stalled Permian drilling

Monday, 27 April 2020

Rock bottom oil prices have hit demand for minerals used in drilling, including barite, bentonite and frac sand.
Oilfield mineral markets rocked by negative oil prices

Wednesday, 22 April 2020

The frac sand and oilfield mineral markets are facing a massive drop in demand after negative oil prices rocked the drilling industry in the United States.
Drilling rates fall further in the US

Monday, 06 April 2020

Oilfield activity in the United States is continuing to plummet, sustaining pressure on the oilfield mineral industry.
Permian Basin drilling activity dries up as oil prices sink

Monday, 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.

Sector News

Refractories

Agrimarkets

Ceramics-Glass

Construction-Chemicals

Energy

Processing

Logistics

Regulation

Oilfield