Industrial Minerals

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Brazilian steel consumption falls 7% in July on weak economy

Tuesday, 20 August 2019

Brazilian apparent steel consumption fell in July on an annual basis, while weak economic performance pushed down domestic sales and imports alike, national steel association Aço Brasil said on Monday August 19.
China’s steel output shows signs of slowdown in July

Thursday, 15 August 2019

Chinese steel output has fallen since June on lower demand and production restrictions in the north.
Non-steel sales saves RHI Magnesita in H1; more uncertainty ahead

Monday, 12 August 2019

The producer expects market uncertainty to continue in the second half of the year, potentially leading to more destocking from customers in the steel division, while the industrial and non-ferrous sectors performed better.
EU new car sales fall by 8% in June, ACEA says

Thursday, 18 July 2019

The ACEA said the year-on-year drop was due to there being fewer working days in June this year.

European refractory grade, abrasive green silicon carbide prices rise

Wednesday, 27 February 2019

Prices in the European market for refractory and abrasive green silicon carbide grades have moved up month on month on tighter availability of material and higher production costs in China late in 2018.
PRICING NOTICE: Change in frequency of silicon carbide market assessments

Monday, 04 February 2019

Fastmarkets is changing the frequency of its silicon carbide price market assessments to monthly, following a consultation with the market.
PRICING NOTICE: Proposal to amend frequency of silicon carbide assessments

Thursday, 03 January 2019

Fastmarkets IM has begun a consultation on its proposal to decrease the frequency of its silicon carbide price assessments.
Price Briefing: December 6-13

Friday, 14 December 2018

European silicon carbide prices rise on supply tightness, expectation of further increases; Ground calcined alumina price rises in run-up to Christmas; Chinese flake graphite prices push higher on winter-related supply tightness; MEIS 2018: China turning net importer of metspar amid strong steel market; GLOBAL LITHIUM WRAP: Chinese lithium carbonate prices firm on tight supply; hydroxide quotation dips on weak demand

Prospects for ceramics shaping up nicely

Thursday, 31 January 2019

Whether you call them technical ceramics, engineering ceramics or advanced ceramics, these materials have advanced steadily through the past year, and 2019 holds a great deal of potential for more widespread adoption, notably in the high performance industrial arena, as Charlie Wallin reports.
Out of the melting pot: A year of change in refractories

Thursday, 06 September 2018

After a year of reorganization and changing narratives in the refractories industry – from significant M&A activity to raw material price spikes, and from booming end-market demand to uncertainties in global trade – Industrial Minerals correspondent Myles McCormick takes stock of a changed landscape for companies operating in the sector.
The rise of the superabrasives

Thursday, 06 September 2018

Automotive manufacturers are demanding better accuracy and longer life from abrasive tools, and this has created an opportunity for a new family of high-performance synthetic abrasives, as Industrial Minerals correspondent Rose Pengelly discovers.
Feeling the rub: Asian abrasives continue to challenge Western suppliers

Thursday, 22 February 2018

Cheap Chinese alumina has been undercutting abrasives prices and output in North America and elsewhere for several years, but recent supply restrictions in China could reverse this trend, as Industrial Minerals correspondent Rose Pengelly discovers.