Ramped-up offshore exploration for rare earth metals and minerals, vital components in sought-after products like hybrid vehicles and smartphone screens, continues to cut into China’s long-held position as the primary global supplier. Countries like Australia, the United States, Myanmar, and even nations like Malaysia, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan continue to increase their extraction efforts. This […]
Category: Manufacturing
ThyssenKrupp and EP Corporate Group to Form Joint Steel Venture
ThyssenKrupp recently announced plans to create a 50/50 joint steel manufacturing venture with the Czech Republic’s EP Corporate Group and ThyssenKrupp Steel (TKS). According to the German group, talks are now ongoing between the two parties for the sale of an additional 30% stake in the steelmaker, following an April 26 announcement that EP would initially […]
Rare Earths MMI: Chinese Rare Earth Profits Continue to Slide
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) saw a massive rebound after four months of sharp declines. All in all, the index rose by a whopping 14.36%. This enormous increase could indicate that prices for rare earth metals finally found a bottom between March and April. Chinese Rare Earth Metals Profits Still Declining China’s mining […]
Anglo American Rejects $38.8 Billion BHP Takeover Offer
Metals markets recently saw UK metal and mining multinational Anglo American reject a £31.1 billion ($38.8 billion) takeover bid from Australia’s BHP. Meanwhile, shareholders in the latter company continue to urge an increase in the offer price. On April 26, London- and Johannesburg-listed Anglo American’s board of directors unanimously rejected BHP’s unsolicited, all-share offer made […]
India’s Battle for Steel Self-Reliance Intensifies Amid Import Surge
India has ended the financial year 2023-2024 as a net importer of finished steel, which has sent the alarm bells ringing in industry circles throughout India. Mainly, insiders want to know how the changing import status might affect steel costs and India’s push for self reliance. According to news agency Reuters, as per initial government […]
British Steel’s Ambitious Decarbonization Plan Gets the Green Light
In an April 2 announcement, steel industry leader British Steel stated that the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council recently approved new equipment following a detailed consultation on its decarbonization project. British Steel originally announced its plans to replace the furnaces at Scunthorpe and Teesside in September under plans that would see the steelmaker cut its […]
ThyssenKrupp Responds to Market Turbulence with Bold Production Cuts
Germany flats producer ThyssenKrupp Steel (TKS) recently announced plans to cut its production capacity by an average of 19.5%, citing current market conditions as the main reason. Indeed, the European steel industry continues to face a wide range of challenges, including economic challenges and surging energy costs. “The aim is to make ThyssenKrupp Steel fit […]
Will the Taiwan Earthquake Impact Semiconductor Production?
Reports indicate that the earthquake that struck Taiwan on April 2 is unlikely to create either supply or manufacturing difficulties for Taiwan semiconductors (microchips), which could subsequently impact the auto sector and steel prices. “I haven’t heard about any impact on the industry due to the earthquake,” one steel trader told MetalMiner. The seismic incident registered 7.2 on […]
Tata Steel Workers to Strike Against Port Talbot Blast Furnace Closures
Tata Steel workers associated with the Unite Trade Union at Port Talbot recently voted to strike over plans to replace the site’s two blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces. The decision immediately led to discussions about the near and long-term future of the UK steel industry as well as Tata’s production capabilities. “Around 1,500 Tata […]
Raw Steels MMI: Steel Prices Flatten, Is an Uptrend Next?
The Raw Steels Monthly Metals Index (MMI) moved sideways, with a modest 1.38% decline in steel prices from March to April. U.S. flat rolled steel prices continued to trade down throughout March. Meanwhile, HRC prices fell 8.35% to close the month at a new lower low. However, hot rolled coil prices traded up during the […]
