Industrial Minerals

Market Monitor

• Ford’s filler punch August 2010

  Ford Motor Co.’s research centre in Germany, Ford Forschungszentrum, revealed that it is getting closer to using more natural fibre filled plastics in its autoplastics Read More

• Fears grow over drilling ban 26 July 2010

  Opposition to Gulf of Mexico oil drilling ban intensifies; Washington steadfast Read More

• AkzoNobel boosts paint sales 26 July 2010

  Paints and coatings start recovery as world’s no.1 producer boosts Q2 profits Read More

• EU funds two solar expansions 21 July 2010

  Commission approves over €25m. in aid for solar material plants in Germany and Spain Read More

• CEMEX sells US aggregates assets 12 July 2010

  Seven aggregates quarries among Kentucky assets in $90m. sale to Bluegrass Materials Read More

• June oil and gas drilling up 44% 08 July 2010

  Global exploration rises year on year, boosting demand for oilfield minerals Read More

• Brazil cement output to expand 06 July 2010

  Votorantim Cimentos awards Loesche contract for 3 cement raw materials mills Read More

• Fertilisers boost in Tanzania 05 July 2010

  Tanzania’s Minjingu Mines and Fertiliser targets 250,000 tpa fertiliser by year end Read More

• Tesla gives EV a boost 30 June 2010

  Watershed moment as first car maker to float since Ford beats forecasts Read More

• Saint-Gobain sells ceramics unit 30 June 2010

  Advanced Ceramics business divested to US group CoorsTek for $245m. Read More

• Wattyl accepts Valspar paints bid 30 June 2010

  US company agrees to acquire leading Australian paint manufacturer Read More

• Migao builds fertiliser plant 29 June 2010

  China-focused group to complete 40,000 tpa potassium sulphate plant by Q4 2011 Read More

• Solar panel recycling considered 25 June 2010

  European Parliament looks to exempt photovoltaic industry from recycling Read More

• Toyota switches to lithium-ion 23 June 2010

  New Prius plug-in hybrid drops nickel-metal hydride battery in favour of lithium Read More

• EU probes ceramics dumping 21 June 2010

  European Commission investigates alleged dumping of China-produced tiles Read More

• US begins legislation to restart neodymium magnet production July 2010

  Neodymium-iron-boron magnet production set for return to US soil after 15 year hiatus as China places further restrictions on supply Read More

• Gulf spill to hit barytes demand 18 June 2010

  Deepwater Horizon disaster expected to weaken US demand for drilling minerals Read More

• GengSheng bags proppant deal 09 June 2010

  Sintered bauxite producer wins 12 month contract with China National Petroleum Read More

• Molycorp/Neo magnets deal 08 June 2010

  North American rare earth groups plan cooperation on alloys & magnets production Read More

• May oil drilling up 39% 07 June 2010

  Oilfield minerals demand boosted by monthly increase in oil and gas exploration Read More

• Valspar bids for Wattyl 03 June 2010

  US company makes bid for Australian paint maker, while DuluxGroup to demerge Read More

• Asia Pacific paint growth 02 June 2010

  Robust growth forecast for region, recovering despite flat sales in 2009 Read More

• US House passes rare earth bill 01 June 2010

  House of Representatives passes act to restore US neodymium magnet production Read More

• BP “top kill” relies on minerals 28 May 2010

  Industrial minerals such as barytes and bentonite play vital role in GoM oil leak fix Read More

• Spanish ceramics continues fall 27 May 2010

  Key minerals-consuming sector operating at under half of 2006 capacity Read More

• Nippon expands Brazil glass j-v 27 May 2010

  Nippon-Saint Gobain float glass operation to be largest in South America Read More

• Growing markets for micronutrients June 2010

  The use of micronutrients in agriculture is moving from a luxury to a necessity as modern research boosts the effectiveness of minerals in soil Read More

• Costs hit Europe fluorochemicals 21 May 2010

  European producers face high feedstock costs and a spike in freight rates Read More

• EU industry continues recovery 19 May 2010

  Industrial production rises 6% in March as mineral end markets rebound Read More

• China funds S. African cement 14 May 2010

  New j-v to invest $221m. in 2,500 tonne/day cement plant in Limpopo province Read More