[
9/22/2008 2:32:28 PM
]
At present the port chrome ore market some "strange wind", mainly in the prices of successive decline in the circumstances, some varieties of ore pricing have significantly reduced the phenomenon, as demonstrated in the Turkish chrome ore, Oman and South Africa ore mine, the sources said, Recently these countries because of the mineral chromium have been making considerable amount of the increase, while the export volume also increased, the downward adjustment in prices stems from the slow procurement, the ore source more to increase the number of the ore price drop.
According to the port traders said, 38 percent of the ore to the coast of Oman block transaction price has dropped to 260 U.S. dollars / ton about the level of a week ago, a 20-30 U.S. dollars / ton decline, the port also slip of the sales price of 60 yuan / T degrees below ,31-32 percent of Omans ports to block mining board price fell to 43-46 yuan / ton; At the same time, on the mine situation, there may be downward, at least in imports in the current Not the bulk purchase. South African mines, 42 percent of South Africas port to board flour prices in the 74-77 yuan / ton of all transactions, 44 percent of flour in South Africa 79-80 yuan / ton, but the volume is not large, demand is still weak The market is the biggest resistance. Turkey Mine, Turkeys largest chromium iron production enterprises EtiKrom company recently introduced the fourth quarter of chrome ore shipping prices, chromium ore (Cr2O3: 42%) from the original price of 715-720 U.S. dollars / ton (CFR China main port) to 515 -- 520 U.S. dollars / ton, down 200 U.S. dollars per ton on average about Although this move is to alleviate the current downturn chrome ore market, but such a substantial reduction of chrome ore market will certainly have a great impact.
Other ores, such as 38-40 per cent of the Iranian coast to block the ore pricing in 510 U.S. dollars / ton below 42 percent of Pakistan to shore block ore pricing in the 530-550 dollar / metric tons, the port price fell to 104-106 yuan / Tons, traders said the market is still uncertain, the need to further do intend to wait and see.
[
9/8/2008 4:10:07 PM
]
From 2001 to 2005,ferroalloy exports remained below 2 million tons. From 2006,ferroalloy exports have begun a significant growth,and exports in 2006 increased more 600,000 tons than that in 2005,while exports in 2007 also rose 850,000 tons than that in 2006. By 2008,despite an increase of ferroalloy export tariffs, but ferroalloy export volume has still not declined. In the first half of 2008,the export volume has reached 1.724 million tons. It is expected that exports over the second half of this year will decrease,but the annual volume of exports will also work with a considerable level of that in 2007.
Our government has taken many measures to control the exports of ferroalloy, including the adjustment of ferroalloy export tariffs, ferroalloy export license management,some ferroalloy export quotas and so on.
Will ferroalloy tariffs be raised?
There are processes of ferroalloy export tariff adjustment as following: First,from November 1,2006,ferroalloy exports have been implemened 10% of provisional tariffs.
Second,from June 1,2007,the export tariffs of ferro chromium,ferro silicon,ferro titanium,and electrolytic manganese have been improved to be 15%,and other ferroalloy products maintained 10% of the provisional tariffs
Finally,from January 1,2008,ferro silicon implemented 25% of the tax rate,while ferro manganese and Si-Mn implemented 20% of the tax rate, and other ferroalloy products was 20% of the provisional tariffs.
If the ferroalloy export tariffs will continue to be adjusted became a common concern to the industry. We believed that from the above trend of tariff policy adjustment,as one of the important measures to regulate and control the exports of ferroalloy,in the condition that some ferroalloy exports (such as manganese alloys,ferrosilicon,etc.) are still not under control,it is largely possible that ferroalloy export tariffs continue to raise,but only some products limited.
How far is ferroalloy export quota from us?
As an important measure of criterion of ferroalloy export market,the export license management will be popular with the policy changes. From January 1,2007,ferroalloy products began to brought into the export license management areas,but the quality of export enterprises was not required,while as long as any enterprise got the export permit,it could have a right to export. However,the Ministry of Commerce recently issued a announcement of ferroalloy export permit application conditions,in which it made clear rules for application conditions of ferroalloy production and distribution companies,especially with a relatively stringent requirements to distribution companies'registered capital,the bulk alloys export in 2007,and other aspects. The industry believed that the introduction of the notice would end the situation of "The implementation of the export license management is on a mere formality". Therefore,we think that the role of our government's stringent requirements to the application of ferroalloy export licence conditions,is not only limit to regulating ferroalloy export market,but also we can guess from the future national policy trends.
Firstly,such stringent conditions will be bound to lessen the export enterprises in order to reduce export volume.
Secondly,it will promote a ferroalloy export license management to develop to be the export quota management. If it implemented the export quota management,in the condition of the limit of the total export quotas,the export enterprises'aptitude will be an important reference to apply for quotas. We can make such a judgement that it may be the trend of the times to fully implemente quota management in ferroalloy export,but this process can not be accomplished overnight,but gradual. At this moment,we remind the Chinese ferroalloy enterprises that you should pay close attention to the government's appropriate policy adjustments,and you should also come up with countermeasures for the possible policy adjustments.
Note: The process from the export license management to the export quota management with ferro molybdenum is as following:
First,from January 1,2007,ferro molybdenum was brought into the export license management.
Second,in March,2007,the Commerce Department issued "indium and molybdenum export licenses application standard and reporting procedures",which made a certain limit to the ferro molybdenum production enterprises and distribution companies from production,export volume,environmental protection and so on.
Third,on June 18,2007,ferro molybdenum was started the implementation of the export quota management.
From the first half of 2008,the export volume has been greatly reduced,which can also say that the restrictions of ferro molybdenum exports have achieved certain results on the assistance of the export quota management.
from:ferroalloynet.com
[
7/25/2008 6:24:15 PM
]
EMM market showes rise at the week from FOB CMP USD3700-4000 to 3900-4100/mt. Source says that reason is blasting explosive control which decreases manganese ore mining. Some producers stopped production reduces output, electric power price increased at July.
MB showes that price in free market on DDP warehouse basis is between USD3900-4100/mt.
Since EMM price kept weak from China New Year, some EMM producers changed to produce high profit low carbon ferro manganese, price may keep strong in the coming month.
Presented by :
Hill Summer-managing director
Million Link (China) Investment Ltd.
Disclaimer: Market has its opportunities and risks. Above information is done under our best knowladge on the industry. It can be used for your reference only.We are not responsible for any loss/benefit by using the information for your buying/selling/production/investment decision.
[
7/24/2008 3:35:58 PM
]
LONDON (Reuters) -
Ukrainian iron ore producer Ferrexpo PLC posted a 1 percent year-on-year fall in second-quarter iron ore production to 7.2 million tonnes on Tuesday and warned that it faced cost pressures.
The shares, which have shed 35 percent over the past six weeks, fell as much as 3.3 percent and were 1.2 percent weaker at 287 pence by 0857 GMT. This compares to a 1.2 percent rise in the UK mining index
London-listed Ferrexpo, the world's 12th-largest producer of iron ore pellets, said it continued to fight rising costs as producer price inflation in Ukraine surged 29.4 percent during the first six months of the year.
The cost pressures were especially high in diesel fuel and steel used for mining infrastructure.
"We are pleased that these cost pressures have been partly mitigated by continuing successes in operational efficiency improvement at our GPL operations," Chief Operating Officer Viktor Lotous said.
Last year cash costs associated with extracting ore increased 8.6 percent, better than a 23.3 percent rise in the Ukrainian producer price index.
Analyst Michael Rawlinson at Liberum Capital in London said following the trading update he had increased his forecast of cash costs to $42-43 per tonne from $38-39 per tonne.
The firm said prices it received when selling iron ore in the second quarter nearly doubled, soaring 92.6 percent compared to the first quarter.
Ferrexpo said it was able to extract richer ore in the second quarter after it commissioned several items of new mining equipment. Purchases of third-party concentrates were low due to market tightness so the company focused on producing iron ore pellets from its own raw materials.
Last year, the firm doubled net profit to $134 million on the back of higher output and prices.
Iron ore production in 2007 rose 9 percent to 28.9 million tonnes and pellet production gained 6 percent to 9.1 million tonnes. (from:mineweb.com)
[
6/30/2008 5:36:55 PM
]
Ferro silicon price soared at last months. What is market price right now?
We know 75% ferro silicon price in USA is USD1.4-1.48/Lb.Si DDP Pittsburgh. for other sources according to Metals Week report.
We know 75% ferro silicon average price today in China is FOB Tianjin USD1800-2000/mt according to MB repot;FOB Tianjin USD1870-1880/mt according to asianmetal.com;
What price will be? You may have more idea if you see the supply and demand situation below. We believe price is decided by the power of supply and demand.
We found cost continues increment. China raises fuel and electricity prices. See the linked report http://english.cri.cn/3130/2006/07/03/262@109679.htm
We found export duty basic price raised which caused export cost USD100/mt higher than the end of June.
Demand is too weak in almost every main market. Japanes steel plants and foundry plants have heavy stock which can be used until Sept 2008.
Conclusion: Down trend at next 1-2 months and possible to bounce up at Sept at Europe purchase season .
Presented by :
Hill Summer-managing director
Million Link (China) Investment Ltd.
Disclaimer: Market has its opportunities and risks. Above information is done under our best knowladge on the industry. It can be used for your reference only.We are not responsible for any loss/benefit by using the information for your buying/selling/production/investment decision.
[
6/27/2008 4:44:12 PM
]
Hyundai Steel Co., South Korea's second-largest steelmaker, said Thursday that it plans to raise the price of hot-rolled steel coils by 10.9 per cent to reflect the increased cost of raw materials, its fifth hike this year.
The price of hot-rolled steel coils will rise to 1,020,000 won (US$984) a ton from 920,000 won starting on July 1, Hyundai Steel said.
Hyundai Steel cited rising prices of scrap iron, pig iron and Russian and Chinese slabs as the reason for the price hike. Hyundai Steel said the price of scrap iron used in its furnaces has risen by US$60 a ton at the end of this month from early May and that of pig iron has risen by US$220. The prices of Russian and Chines slabs also have reached up to US$1,150 a ton from US$1,000 during the same period, the company said.
On Tuesday, POSCO, the world's fourth-largest steelmaker, said it plans to raise prices of steel products such as hot-rolled coils and hot-rolled steel coils to cover rising costs of raw materials such as iron ore and coal starting next month. It was the third price hike of POSCO this year. Shares of Hyundai Steel inched up 0.13 per cent to close at 79,800 won on the Seoul bourse.
from:tradingmarkets.com
[
6/26/2008 5:16:27 PM
]
PART of the steep rise in steel prices can be explained by the rise in prices of three key underlying raw materials: iron ore, metallurgical coal and manganese.
Steelmakers have not had to tighten their belts despite metallurgical coal prices increasing seven times, manganese ore six times, and iron ore five times since 2001. They have been able to pass these costs on while widening their profit margin thanks to burgeoning demand, outpacing the world’s steel production capacity.
Marius Kloppers, BHP Billiton’s chief executive officer, said in an analysts’ presentation yesterday that the contribution to the overall steel price of the three core ingredients has remained steady at about 30% for the past eight years.
BHP Billiton comes third behind Vale and Rio Tinto in iron ore production, but it is the world’s biggest producer of both metallurgical coal and manganese ore.
While the bulk of its iron ore and hard coking coal is mined in Australia for easy access to China and India, South Africa is the home of both the world’s biggest and third biggest manganese producers. The world’s second biggest manganese producer is French mining multinational Eramet, followed by JSE-listed Assmang.
Peter Beaven, president of BHP Billiton’s manganese division, said the ore from Samancor’s mines near Hotazel (pronounced “Hot as Hell”) in the Northern Cape fetches higher prices than standard manganese. Steel producers are willing to pay a premium for it because it produces more saleable metal using less electricity than lower quality manganese.
From forbes.com.
[
6/24/2008 4:45:18 PM
]
SHANGHAI/LONDON, June 23 (Reuters) - China's largest steel maker Baosteel <600019.SS> and Rio Tinto have agreed on the highest price hike in at least over a decade in iron ore term contracts, the companies announced on Monday.
Baosteel has agreed to pay up to 96.5 percent more for its iron ore under a term contract with Australian miner Rio Tinto, higher than the 65-71 percent that Chinese mills and Brazilian miner Vale have clinched earlier this year.
But the company, which negotiated on behalf of the Chinese steel industry, said the traditional annual pricing system had been maintained despite an unprecedented divergence in the price rise of Australian ore and Brazilian ore.
"To maintain the traditional pricing system and normal market order and to hold a long-term friendly cooperation between the upstream and downstream sectors, Baosteel has settled 2008 benchmark iron ore prices with Rio Tinto after friendly negotiation," Baosteel said in an emailed statement.
The company agreed to a 79.88 percent price rise for Pilbara blend fines and Yandicoogina fines, and a 96.5 percent price rise for Pilbara blend lump for the fiscal year 2008.
"This is an extremely healthy price for Rio Tinto. It's about $14 higher than we had expected," said John Meyer, head of resources at Fairfax I.S. in London.
London-traded shares in Rio , which had been under pressure to get as high a rise as possible to justify its defence against a take-over bid from fellow Australian BHP Billiton (nyse: BBL - news - people ), slipped slightly by 0.1 percent.
BHP Billiton has yet to reach an agreement with Asian mills. Its shares rose by 1.1 percent in London.
Stocks in Vale, the world's biggest iron ore miner, rose 2 percent. Analysts in Brazil say that even though the deal interrupts five years of other miners following Vale in setting benchmark prices, it showed that demand remained red-hot, which will likely benefit Vale when it negotiates 2009 prices.
"And if freight costs diminish ... a return of joint price talks is possible," said Rogerio Zarpao, a Unibanco analyst.
DISPARITY
BHP chief executive Marius Kloppers said the higher percentage rise showed the market had recognized the freight differential, or higher FOB price to offset lower shipping costs, that Australian miners had long sought.
He declined to say if BHP would agree to the same terms, but said it represented a small step in a needed adjustment for a disparity in freight rates from Brazil and Australia. [ID:nL23266931]
"We're talking about a quarter of the (estimated) long term freight differential that was captured, but at today's rates it's only about a tenth," he said. "Clearly this is something we need to work at."
Both BHP and Rio are now trying to move away from static term prices that for years have stayed well below spot rates for lower-quality ore, to an index system or some other, more flexible mechanism that reflects spot demand and prices.
They are also backing attempts to create iron ore swaps markets, and possibly someday an iron ore futures market [ID:nSP173780].
"The price discovery mechanism is not efficient. You have such a big discrepancy between spot prices and contract prices for iron ore and steelmakers have to find an efficient way of pricing iron ore, said a commodities analyst in Europe.
"This is going to be quite difficult."
But Baosteel, which has benefitted from relatively low term prices even as growing Chinese steel output caused spot ore markets to soar, was adamant the annual system still existed.
"The result represents the sincerity from the two sides to maintain the traditional pricing system and a result from joint efforts of the enterprises that carry responsibilities," Baosteel said.
"Chinese steel mills support Rio Tinto to boost investment and increase output further to meet market demand."
The new reference prices per dry metric tonne Fe unit for 2008 are US$1.4466 for iron ore fines, and US$2.0169 for iron ore lump, Baosteel said.
From forbes.com.
[
6/16/2008 5:39:36 PM
]
Global miner Rio Tinto dismissed concerns on Monday over a huge new African iron-ore project which is central to its defence against a $180 billion hostile bid from rival BHP Billiton
The $6 billion Simandou project in Guinea is one of several that Rio says is undervalued by BHP Billiton's all-share offer, but doubts about Simandou surfaced last week when it emerged that Guinea was reviewing its award of the concession.
"We are confident. We are continuing to proceed with the project," Rio Chief Executive Tom Albanese told reporters.
Last week, Rio said Guinea had written to it, querying the validity of a decree issuing the Simandou concession, though Rio said at the time that the validity of a head agreement, under which the concession was held, was not under question.
Albanese said the issue revolved around the availability of land under the concession, but declined to go into detail, stressing that Guinea remained very supportive of the project.
"We have found the world's largest-known undeveloped high-grade iron ore province at Simandou in Guinea," he said.
Rio Tinto estimates Simandou has 2.25 billion tonnes of ore.
Albanese was talking to reporters after addressing a business lunch in Sydney where he argued Rio Tinto's defence against BHP's bid in front of nearly 1,000 bankers, business leaders, analysts and rival mining executives.
Rio Tinto says the proposed bid, pitched at 3.4 BHP shares for each Rio share, is too low as it discounts Rio's pipeline of new projects and the profits it stands to make from booming markets such as China.
"We remain confident that the medium- to long-term trend is for a sustained and substantial increase in demand for metals and resources," Albanese said in his lunch address.
BHP Billiton wants to buy its nearest rival to cut costs, grab a bigger share of world metals markets and boost pricing power, but it faces resistance not only from Rio but also from China, which is wary of dealing with such a powerful supplier.
Aluminium group Chinalco in March bought 9 percent of Rio, and there are media reports that Chinese steelmakers Baosteel, Wugang and Angang could jointly invest in BHP Billiton.
Albanese said he was watching Chinalco's investment closely, but did not elaborate.
He also touched on the wider issue of foreign sovereign funds investing in Australia's resources industry, a major world producer of iron ore, coal, nickel, gold, alumina and uranium.
Albanese backed Australia's cautious approach to foreign direct investment in mining at a time when the industry needed foreign money to dig more mines, build roads and hire more staff.
"While I agree there is a case for prudence, I don't think Australia would want to miss out on this substantial opportunity by not taking advantage of the full breadth of global capital and global relationships that might be on offer in its own region," he said.
China has also been looking to raise its stakes in small and medium-sized Australian miners and prospectors to reduce its reliance on global giants such as BHP and Rio.
Rio shares were up 1.8 percent at A$136.91 by 0537 GMT on Monday, their highest since June 6. BHP gained 2.1 percent to A$43.95 in a broader market up just 0.04 percent.
From forbes.com.
[
5/8/2008 11:51:05 AM
]
Business Editors/Energy Editors DUBLIN, Ireland-- --April 30, 2008--Research and Markets has announced the addition of Asia-Pacific Oil and Chemicals Storage Industry Report: Detailed Analysis of All Active and Planned Oil and Chemical Terminals Including Capacity Forecasts and Terminal Contact Information to their offering.
Business Wire via NewsEdge :
Business Editors/Energy Editors
DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 2008--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c90293) has announced the addition of Asia-Pacific Oil and Chemicals Storage Industry Report: Detailed Analysis of All Active and Planned Oil and Chemical Terminals Including Capacity Forecasts and Terminal Contact Information to their offering.
Asia-Pacific Oil and Chemicals Storage Industry Report
Summary
- This profile is the essential source for top-level industry data and information relating to the oil and chemicals storage. It provides asset level information relating to the active and planned oil and gas storage terminals in Asia Pacific. The profiles of the major storage companies, latest events, and deals are also provided and analyzed.
Scope
- Updated information relating to all active and planned oil and chemical storage terminals
- Provides key information on historical and forecast capacity of terminals
- Details operators and equity partners of each terminal and the changes in the operator and equity partners since 2000
- Includes information relating to the terminal start date, location, contact details and the number of tanks in each terminal
- Information on the top companies in the oil storage industry including business description, strategic analysis, and financial information.
- Product and brand updates, strategy changes, R&D projects, corporate expansions and contractions and regulatory changes.
- Key mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, private equity and venture capital investments, and IPOs.
Note: Some content types may not be available in this report
Reasons to buy
- Obtain the most up to date information available on 1800+ storage terminals across the world
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Source: Research and Markets