Week in Review: Lithium-ion batteries; Chinese steel merger; Rio Tinto resumes labor talks at BC Works

Before the weekend, let’s take a look back at the week that was and the metals storylines on MetalMiner:
The MetalMiner Best Practice Library offers a wealth of knowledge and tips to help buyers stay on top of metals markets and buying strategies.

Week of Aug. 23-27 (lithium-ion battery challenges, Chinese steel merger and much more)

• Chinese steelmakers Ansteel and Ben Gang will merge to form the world’s third-largest steelmaking company.
• Global copper mine production rose by 4.8% through the first five months of the year.
• Stuart Burns on the technological challenges posed by lithium-ion batteries.
• Steel capacity utilization rose to 85.0% last week.
• Norsk Hydro said it will expand capacity at its aluminum extrusion plant in Sjunnen, Sweden.
• Sohrab Darabshaw took a look at Afghanistan’s rare earths and potential investments on the heels of the U.S. military’s pullout from the country.
• U.S. steel imports rose by 17.4% through the first seven months of the year, the American Iron and Steel Institute reported.
• Global aluminum production picked up in July, the International Aluminum Institute reported.
• U.S. steel imports picked up in July, paced by a jump in imports of blooms, billets and slabs.
• Norsk Hydro said it will extend its partnership with Equinor and Panasonic to explore the formation of a joint European battery business.
• Global steel production fell on a month-over-month basis in July, marking the second straight month of declines.
• Rio Tinto announced it had resumed negotiations with the union representing workers at the BC Works aluminum smelter.

You want more MetalMiner on your terms. Sign up for weekly email updates here.