Industrial Minerals

Refractories

Alteo takeover signals greater focus on batteries, electronics for alumina producer

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

French calcined alumina producer Alteo has been acquired by West African mining and logistics group United Mining Supply (UMS), a move that secures the company’s financial foothold and paves the way for new investment to serve specialty applications including semiconductors and batteries.
FOCUS: China’s steel exports expected to rise in 2021

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

China’s steel market participants expect that the country will export more steel in 2021 than in 2020 with the recovery of demand worldwide, Fastmarkets heard on Tuesday January 26.
MRC expands its graphite exploration acreage in Norway (UPDATE)

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Mineral Commodities (MRC) has been granted permission to expand its graphite prospects in Norway while it advances its downstream developments.
Shipping delays, high costs persist in run-up to Lunar New Year

Monday, 25 January 2021

Severe logistical hurdles continue to affect the main seaborne shipping routes out of China, with prohibitively high container freight costs persisting and recent land transport issues adding to the congestion and delays at ports.

Agrimarkets

Spot, contract iodine prices steady as markets looks to possible recovery

Friday, 27 November 2020

Prices for iodine on both a spot and a contract basis were unchanged in the week to Thursday November 26 while the market looked ahead to a potential recovery in 2021.

Ceramics-Glass

Iluka zircon sales hit by sharp drop in Chinese tile sector

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Mineral sand miner Iluka has reported sharply lower sales of zircon in 2020 with demand from China plummeting.
Alteo takeover signals greater focus on batteries, electronics for alumina producer

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

French calcined alumina producer Alteo has been acquired by West African mining and logistics group United Mining Supply (UMS), a move that secures the company’s financial foothold and paves the way for new investment to serve specialty applications including semiconductors and batteries.
Shipping delays, high costs persist in run-up to Lunar New Year

Monday, 25 January 2021

Severe logistical hurdles continue to affect the main seaborne shipping routes out of China, with prohibitively high container freight costs persisting and recent land transport issues adding to the congestion and delays at ports.
China’s bauxite, fused alumina prices go up again on raised costs, lower supply

Friday, 22 January 2021

Seaborne prices for bauxite and fused alumina in China moved up in the fortnight ended Thursday January 21 on rising land transport costs and long lead times, compounded by persistently tight supply.

Construction-Chemicals

Alteo takeover signals greater focus on batteries, electronics for alumina producer

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

French calcined alumina producer Alteo has been acquired by West African mining and logistics group United Mining Supply (UMS), a move that secures the company’s financial foothold and paves the way for new investment to serve specialty applications including semiconductors and batteries.
Shipping delays, high costs persist in run-up to Lunar New Year

Monday, 25 January 2021

Severe logistical hurdles continue to affect the main seaborne shipping routes out of China, with prohibitively high container freight costs persisting and recent land transport issues adding to the congestion and delays at ports.
China’s bauxite, fused alumina prices go up again on raised costs, lower supply

Friday, 22 January 2021

Seaborne prices for bauxite and fused alumina in China moved up in the fortnight ended Thursday January 21 on rising land transport costs and long lead times, compounded by persistently tight supply.
Quick resolution unlikely in American Iodine's twisty legal battle with Cosayach

Thursday, 21 January 2021

A court battle between Cosayach and its former North American distributor that stretches back to July last year looks a long way from resolution after the US lawyers of the leading Chilean iodine producer refused the civil citation informing the company it was being sued.

Energy

European Commission approves $3.5 bln battery research project

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

The European Commission (EC) has approved, under EU state aid rules, a second research and innovation project in the battery space, unlocking €2.9 billion ($3.52 billion) of state funds provided by a dozen European states to support research and innovation in the battery supply chain, it said on Tuesday January 26.
Alteo takeover signals greater focus on batteries, electronics for alumina producer

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

French calcined alumina producer Alteo has been acquired by West African mining and logistics group United Mining Supply (UMS), a move that secures the company’s financial foothold and paves the way for new investment to serve specialty applications including semiconductors and batteries.
Lynas to develop light rare earth capacity in the US

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Lynas will add light rare earth processing capacity to its planned heavy rare earth facility in the United States, it said on January 22.
Global computer chip shortage hits automotive industry amid higher demand

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

A global shortage of computer chips, another consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic that is affecting carmakers, has in some cases forced automotive producers to close assembly lines, Fastmarkets understands.

Processing

Alteo takeover signals greater focus on batteries, electronics for alumina producer

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

French calcined alumina producer Alteo has been acquired by West African mining and logistics group United Mining Supply (UMS), a move that secures the company’s financial foothold and paves the way for new investment to serve specialty applications including semiconductors and batteries.
Shipping delays, high costs persist in run-up to Lunar New Year

Monday, 25 January 2021

Severe logistical hurdles continue to affect the main seaborne shipping routes out of China, with prohibitively high container freight costs persisting and recent land transport issues adding to the congestion and delays at ports.
China’s bauxite, fused alumina prices go up again on raised costs, lower supply

Friday, 22 January 2021

Seaborne prices for bauxite and fused alumina in China moved up in the fortnight ended Thursday January 21 on rising land transport costs and long lead times, compounded by persistently tight supply.
GLOBAL LITHIUM WRAP: Chinese carbonate tightness supports first Asian seaborne market move in 18 weeks

Friday, 22 January 2021

Tightness in the Chinese domestic battery grade lithium compound market drove further price upswings and supported a similar move up in the Asian seaborne lithium carbonate market in the week to Thursday January 21.

Logistics

Alteo takeover signals greater focus on batteries, electronics for alumina producer

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

French calcined alumina producer Alteo has been acquired by West African mining and logistics group United Mining Supply (UMS), a move that secures the company’s financial foothold and paves the way for new investment to serve specialty applications including semiconductors and batteries.
LME sets launch date for lithium futures contract settled against Fastmarkets price

Monday, 25 January 2021

The London Metal Exchange will launch its new cash-settled lithium futures contract on June 14, 2021, settled against Fastmarkets’ price assessment for lithium hydroxide monohydrate.
Shipping delays, high costs persist in run-up to Lunar New Year

Monday, 25 January 2021

Severe logistical hurdles continue to affect the main seaborne shipping routes out of China, with prohibitively high container freight costs persisting and recent land transport issues adding to the congestion and delays at ports.
China’s bauxite, fused alumina prices go up again on raised costs, lower supply

Friday, 22 January 2021

Seaborne prices for bauxite and fused alumina in China moved up in the fortnight ended Thursday January 21 on rising land transport costs and long lead times, compounded by persistently tight supply.

Regulation

European Commission approves $3.5 bln battery research project

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

The European Commission (EC) has approved, under EU state aid rules, a second research and innovation project in the battery space, unlocking €2.9 billion ($3.52 billion) of state funds provided by a dozen European states to support research and innovation in the battery supply chain, it said on Tuesday January 26.
Iluka zircon sales hit by sharp drop in Chinese tile sector

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Mineral sand miner Iluka has reported sharply lower sales of zircon in 2020 with demand from China plummeting.
Alteo takeover signals greater focus on batteries, electronics for alumina producer

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

French calcined alumina producer Alteo has been acquired by West African mining and logistics group United Mining Supply (UMS), a move that secures the company’s financial foothold and paves the way for new investment to serve specialty applications including semiconductors and batteries.
Lynas to develop light rare earth capacity in the US

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Lynas will add light rare earth processing capacity to its planned heavy rare earth facility in the United States, it said on January 22.

Oilfield

PRICING NOTICE: Holiday pricing schedule for 2021-2022

Monday, 04 January 2021

View the Fastmarkets holiday pricing schedule for 2021 and 2022.
UK, EU reach Brexit deal ensuring tariff-free trade

Thursday, 24 December 2020

The United Kingdom and European Union have reached an agreement on a trade deal that will ensure tariff-free trading of most goods between the country and the bloc after December 31 when the withdrawal transition period ends, easing metals and minerals market participants’ fears of logistics paralysis and material shortages.

Sector News

Refractories

Agrimarkets

Ceramics-Glass

Construction-Chemicals

Energy

Processing

Logistics

Regulation

Oilfield