Industrial Minerals

Construction, Chemicals

• Perlite prices pushed upwards 11 March 2010

  Inflation in haulage, freight and fuel costs pushes perlite prices up 10% Read More

• European cement merger on hold 11 March 2010

  Ciments Français says obstacles still blocking merger with Italcementi Read More

• Price Briefing: Week 10 11 March 2010

  Sulphur climbs, rare earths moving up, chromite set to rise and other market news Read More

• Caustic magnesia prices steady 09 March 2010

  Magnesia prices stable as markets tick over after Chinese New Year Read More

• Pulverised fly ash for tyres 09 March 2010

  RockTron targets tyre market with recycled PFA to compete with mineral fillers Read More

• Imerys raises mineral prices 08 March 2010

  Performance Minerals to up kaolin and CaCO3 prices by 8% and 6% respectively Read More

• Chromite prices set to rise 05 March 2010

  High ferrochrome demand puts pressure on non-met chromite prices Read More

• Price Briefing: Week 9 04 March 2010

  TiO2 and bromide raised while perlite firms and IM launches lithium hydroxide price Read More

• Globex eyes 1m. tpa talc ore 03 March 2010

  Resource estimate indicates 1m. tpa of talc and magnesite mill feed possible Read More

• Albemarle raises bromine prices 02 March 2010

  US group hikes bromine and hydrobromic acid on higher demand and new uses Read More

• Producers await fluorspar policy 02 March 2010

  Delay in release of new Chinese fluorspar industry standards leaves industry waiting Read More

• Globe fluorspar sees recovery 25 February 2010

  Australian group forecasts fluorspar recovery as it explores Mozambique potential Read More

• EU clamps down on cartels 25 February 2010

  Cement, glass and speciality graphite all in the spotlight as the European Union investigates price fixing in industrial mineral markets Read More

• Price Briefing: Week 8 25 February 2010

  Quiet markets: Chinese zircon could firm as rare earths, chromite and others stall Read More

• North Africa builds its minerals’ future March 2010

  Even though the global downturn has slowed growth, North Africa is looking forward to realising its phosphate and other mineral resources Read More

• Price Briefing: March 2010 March 2010

  Major pricing developments and analysis. This month: rare earths, rare earths, soda ash, titanium dioxide, calcine alumina, graphite Read More

• SUPPLY SITUATION REPORT: Graphite March 2010

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• TOP STORIES: Brunner Mond adjusts to new dawn March 2010

  Netherlands plant closure absorbs loss of demand; Europe feels pressure from new US tonnages; Soda ash prices fall €30/tonne Read More

• TOP STORIES: Vertical integration drives M&A activity March 2010

  Metals groups search for next big profits; Huge deals grip fertiliser industry; $350m. for fluorspar source Read More

• TOP STORIES: Russia to start magnesium hydroxide production March 2010

  Nikochem j-v with Rusnano; Nano Mg(OH)2 pilot plant 2011; Russian flame retardant market growth Read More

• TOP STORIES: Workers’ lock-out hits US Borax March 2010

  Union rejects new contract; Borates output down 31% in 2009 Read More

• SQM suspends two operations 24 February 2010

  Chilean SQM cuts back iodine and sodium nitrate production as inventories high Read More

• Rhodia silicas unit profits rise 24 February 2010

  Silcea division more than doubles Q4 profits as prices and volumes recover Read More

• S Africa re-enters wollastonite 23 February 2010

  Namaqua to start up wollastonite production in April; targets 23,000 tonnes for 2014 Read More

• Eramet manganese in 2009 loss 22 February 2010

  Division reports full year €27m. loss but steel recovery drives stronger second half Read More

• Chinese fluorspar policy awaited 19 February 2010

  Producers in the dark on new standards expected to constrain global supply Read More

• Stronger Q4 for Solvay chemicals 18 February 2010

  Soda ash and fluorochemicals producer doubles profits despite lower volumes Read More

• Trioxide trials and tribulations 18 February 2010

  Chinese dominance reigns supreme in antimony trioxide as export prices spike in January. However, the market has started to turn since Twinkling Star restarted its disaster-struck mine. Read More

• Price Briefing: Week 7 18 February 2010

  Markets quiet around Chinese New Year; antimony trioxide slipping while SiC firms Read More

• Chromite prices under question 17 February 2010

  European buyers say non-met prices unchanged as suppliers push increases Read More

• US minerals slump in 2009 17 February 2010

  Total value drops 20% to $57.1bn as USA increases reliance on imports Read More

• Rockwood improves Q4 earnings 17 February 2010

  Lithium and TiO2 group reports stronger quarter based on cost cutting programmes Read More

• Sephaku plans fluorochem plant 16 February 2010

  South African miner eying aluminium fluoride production at Nokeng fluorspar mine Read More

• Imerys profits take a hit 15 February 2010

  French mineral producer's Q4 profits fall 13% as end markets remain depressed Read More

• Fluorita eyes acidspar expansion 12 February 2010

  Mexican miner’s new concessions could add up to 40,000 tpa extra capacity Read More