After global crude steel production rose for four consecutive years, output declined last year, the World Steel Association reported Tuesday. Global crude steel production drops 0.9% in 2020 Global crude steel production fell by 0.9% in 2020 compared with 2019, the World Steel Association reported. Production had increased every year from 2015-2019. Output last year […]
Year: 2021
Copper output down, long-term price rally takes January breather
The International Copper Study Group (ICSG) reported the global copper market posted an apparent deficit of 480,000 metric tons through the first 10 months of 2020. Global copper market in deficit, output down In addition to the global copper market deficit, the ICSG reported global copper mine production fell by 0.5% during the aforementioned period. […]
This Morning in Metals: Biden signs executive order aimed at boosting federal procurement of U.S.-made products
This morning in metals news: President Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order aimed at boosting U.S. manufacturing; the U.S. steel sector’s capacity utilization rate during the week ending Jan. 23 reached 75.7%; and the Energy Information Administration expects energy-related carbon dioxide emissions to tick back up once again in 2021 and 2022 after […]
U.K. developing an integrated rare-earths-to-turbine supply chain
In a rare example of joined up governmental thinking, the announcement by Pensana Rare Earths that it has submitted a planning application for a $125 million rare earth oxide refining facility. The facility would be near Hull in northeast England and would plug a gap in an ore-to-finished-turbine manufacturing landscape developing rapidly in the U.K.’s […]
Indian industry groups put pressure on ministers to ban iron ore exports
A chorus of protests against Indian iron-ore exports — with associations of sponge iron and steel-forgings manufacturers making common cause with the India Steel Association (ISA) — has brought pressure on ministers to ban exports of iron ore. Of those exports, 90% goes to China. The groups are protesting in a bid to support domestic […]
This Morning in Metals: Cleveland-Cliffs releases Q4 2020 results
This morning in metals news: Cleveland-Cliffs released its preliminary Q4 2020 results; demand for sustainable aluminum is rising in the maritime industry; and U.S. steel prices continue to rise. Cleveland-Cliffs revenue jumps Cleveland-Cliffs reported Q4 2020 revenues of approximately $2.2 billion to $2.3 billion. The total marked a 320% year-over-year jump. Meanwhile, the firm reported […]
General Motors to invest nearly $800M to build Canadian EV manufacturing plant
U.S. automaker General Motors is making a big investment toward electrification. The automaker recently announced plans to invest nearly $800 million to build what it referred to as “Canada’s first large-scale commercial electric vehicle plant.” Drive toward electrification Much has been made of Tesla’s head start in the race toward electrification. In short, traditional automakers […]
Week in Review: LME steel contracts; Thyssenkrupp’s spinoff effort; ‘green’ aluminum
Before we head into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the week that was in metals storylines here on MetalMiner, including Stuart Burns on LME steel contracts, the green revolution in aluminum and much more. Regarding the LME steel contracts, Burns noted, “For over 200 years, the London Metal Exchange (LME) has provided […]
This Morning in Metals: Aluminum Association lays out priorities for Biden administration
This morning in metals news: the Aluminum Association outlined the issues it hopes the Biden administration will take on; in addition, Alcoa recently reported its Q4 2020 and full-year results; and, finally, the oil price retraced slightly this week. Aluminum Association: aluminum can be part of ‘American comeback’ story The Aluminum Association laid out its […]
‘Green’ aluminum gains momentum
Greg Barker, the executive chairman of En+ Group — owner of Rusal — had free rein in the Financial Times this week to promote the Russian aluminum producer’s green credentials. That is not to say there was not a valid underlying point to his article, namely that the aluminum and steel industries are heavy polluters […]