Industrial Minerals

Europe

• Grafen to use Northern Graphite material for graphene research Friday, February 03, 2012

  Junior holds 50% of North American patent rights for “products and processes” Read More

• IM Global Lithium Roundup: 27 January - 3 February Friday, February 03, 2012

  A brief look at the rest of the week’s lithium stories in the news Read More

• IM Global Rare Earths Roundup: 27 January - 3 February Friday, February 03, 2012

  A brief look at the rest of the week’s rare earth stories in the news Read More

• Correction: Pilkington Glass withdraw plans for Finnish plant Friday, February 03, 2012

  Plant remains closed, no further investment planned following November decision Read More

• Acron to start phosrock production in June at Oleniy Ruchey Friday, February 03, 2012

  Russian fertiliser manufacturer targets 200,000 tonnes for 2012; 1m tonnes in 2013 Read More

• Baltic Dry Index crashes to 25-year lows Thursday, February 02, 2012

  Further falls mean charter rates drop below operating costs; China bans Valemaxes Read More

• Rusal doubles stake in fluorspar group Yaroslavsk to 100% Thursday, February 02, 2012

  Russian aluminium leader strengthens fluorspar supply security with acquisition Read More

• Zimbabwe boosts graphite output in 2011 Thursday, February 02, 2012

  Africa’s only natural graphite producer increases output by 80% on world shortage Read More

• UPDATE: No appeal route for China in WTO ruling Thursday, February 02, 2012

  China must take action to conform to WTO obligations – lawyer Read More

• Phosphate rock prices forecast to drop 25% in 2012 Thursday, February 02, 2012

  New Middle East supply and economic uncertainty push down prices - Credit Suisse Read More

• Pilkington Glass to restart production at Finnish plant Wednesday, February 01, 2012

  Sibelco Nordic said Pilkington "significant customer" for silica sand, feldspar Read More

• “Africa could become continent of the future for raw materials” Tuesday, January 31, 2012

  But better governance & smarter investment needed to boost mineral production Read More

• China loses appeal at WTO over raw materials export duties Monday, January 30, 2012

  Body upholds initial ruling but quashes minimum export agreement complaints Read More

• Mantec consolidates UK technical ceramics subsidiaries Friday, January 27, 2012

  Ceramic aggregate, filtration manufacturers combined under Mantec Technical Ceramics Read More

• Amcol’s Q4 2011 operating profit grows 64% to $18.1m Friday, January 27, 2012

  Pet sales hit, but price increases drive 80% of mineral division’s gross profit Read More

• Beleaguered shipping rates decline further Thursday, January 26, 2012

  Fall in Baltic Dry Index continues, despite Vale lifting flooding force majeure Read More

• Ilmenite prices more than tripled in last 12 months – Kenmare Thursday, January 26, 2012

  Mineral sands group says contracts secured at $300-400/tonne for first half of 2012 Read More

• Eriez Magnetics Europe expands UK manufacturing operations Thursday, January 26, 2012

  Magnetic separation technology group acquires 1,700 m2 site for expansion Read More

• Uralkali does not see drop in potash prices for 2012 Thursday, January 26, 2012

  Russian producer expects prices to remain high as “farmers can afford to pay more” Read More

• Price Briefing – 20-26 January 2012 Thursday, January 26, 2012

  Ilmenite prices triple year on year; Uralkali forecasts potash to remain high in ‘12 Read More

• Talk from the Top: “We are pursuing a very clear acquisition strategy” February 2012

  Christian Kather, CEO of world no.2 talc producer Mondo Minerals, talked to IM about the strategy to develop the plastics market & grow through acquisitions in Asia & South America Read More

• Industrial Minerals Prices February 2012 February 2012

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• Price Briefing: New Year, new price - minerals respond to fluctuating world markets February 2012

  The start of the year saw many mineral grades increasing in value as producers upped their prices to cope with hikes in energy, freight and tight global market fundamentals Read More

• Dust control evolves February 2012

  Dust extraction systems can extend equipment life and reduce product cross-contamination, yet traditional cleaning systems require costly facility downtime. But, as Dustcheck outlines, new online systems are emerging Read More

• Exploration key to growing Greek industry February 2012

  Greece is opening its doors to private investment to boost domestic industries. Ananias Tsirambides and Anestis Filippidis discuss the country’s key exploration targets for industrial minerals development Read More

• People and places February 2012 February 2012

  Gordon Stollery, Canada Fluorspar; Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, Solvay; Akiva Mozes, Israel Chemicals; Ron Bryan, Compass Minerals; John A. Clarke, Great Quest Metals; Mario Juarez, Lithium One; Daniel Greenwell, Tronox Read More

• Fertilisers feel the pressure of economic uncertainty February 2012

  The fertiliser industry, which healthily headed back to pre-crisis levels during 2011, is starting to experience the effects of the global economy weakened by the European debt crisis, the slowdown in China and the recent downgrade of US debt in addition to major markets such as India pushing downwards pressure on prices Read More

• Kobin Mining poised to acquire Kumas February 2012

  A conclusion to the sale of Turkey’s leading dead burned magnesia and refractories producer, Kutahya Manyezit İşletmeleri AŞ (Kumas), appeared imminent by the end of January 2012. Read More

• Projects in the Pipeline: Kaolin bounces back February 2012

  It has been a difficult couple of years for kaolin as the global recession spread to its end user markets, but a recent recovery in demand has also encouraged a surge of new operations and exploration projects Read More

• Roullier Group acquires Possehl’s stake in Van Mannekus Wednesday, January 25, 2012

  French group jointly owns Van Mannekus with Grecian Magnesite Read More

• LSM12: Production costs will determine project survival Wednesday, January 25, 2012

  Delegates in Argentina exchange terse words following supply outlooks Read More

• EU report outlines ambitions to recover minerals from waste Tuesday, January 24, 2012

  Implementing full waste legislation could save EU €72bn a year, Commission says Read More

• Global steel production rose 6.8% in 2011 driven by China Monday, January 23, 2012

  Turkey, South Korea and Italy show robust growth; signs of slowdown at year-end Read More

• Recession “no major effect” on Greek bentonite, says producer Friday, January 20, 2012

  S&B Industrial Minerals says bentonite sales have little exposure to Greek economy Read More

• Baltic Dry Index sinks to three-year lows Thursday, January 19, 2012

  Shipping rates drop 40% in 2012, no recovery seen until after Chinese New Year Read More

• IRC ramps up Russia ilmenite output, beating 2011 targets Thursday, January 19, 2012

  Operations hit by fuel, railcar shortages in Q4; Ukraine’s Titan ups TiO2 output Read More

• US bentonite prices “could rise by 20%” in 2012 Thursday, January 19, 2012

  Market source blames increasing cost pressure on sought-after oilfield mineral Read More

• Rhewum secures screening order from German salt group Thursday, January 19, 2012

  Screen will provide 200,000 tpa capacity for GSES’s de-icer, animal feed grades Read More

• Fertilisers feel the pressure of global economic malaise Thursday, January 19, 2012

  After heading back to pre-crisis levels in 2011 and announcing major capacity expansions in Q4, the fertiliser industry remains cautious as uncertainties hang over 2012 Read More

• Tertiary Minerals updates Lassedalen fluorspar resource Wednesday, January 18, 2012

  Estimates resource at 4m tonnes; hopes to complete more detailed work in Q1 Read More

• RHI acquires Swiss flow control refractories group Wednesday, January 18, 2012

  Austrian refractories major boosts stake in Stopinc to 100%, eyes Asia expansion Read More

• Labour costs push up micaceous iron oxide prices Monday, January 16, 2012

  Standard grade prices up 3-4% while demand for high quality MIO grades firms Read More

• PhosAgro does not plan further phosphate fertiliser decrease Monday, January 16, 2012

  “Prices are moving upwards & demand for fertilisers is rapidly restoring,” says CEO Read More

• FOCUS: Wind blades turn into growth markets for minerals Monday, January 16, 2012

  Mineral fillers and cement to enjoy demand from wind turbine blade manufacturing Read More

• Uralkali increased potash production by 6.4% in 2011 Monday, January 16, 2012

  Russian potash giant boosted annual output to 10.83m following merger with Silvinit Read More

• IM Global Rare Earths Roundup: 6-13 January Friday, January 13, 2012

  New company set up to develop Germany’s only known rare earth deposit Read More

• IM Global Lithium Roundup: 6-13 January Friday, January 13, 2012

  A brief look at the rest of the week’s lithium stories in the news Read More

• Greece seeks mineral lifeboat January 2012

  While economic difficulties for Greece continue, Ananias Tsirambides and Anestis Filippidis highlight the wealth of the country’s mineral resources and suggest how they could contribute to assisting its financial future Read More

• VELTA start-up brings new ilmenite capacity to Ukraine January 2012

  VELTA LLC is looking to take advantage of surging prices for titanium minerals after starting up its Birzulivske ilmenite mine and processing plant in Ukraine in December 2011. Read More

• Russian rare earths potential faces major obstacles January 2012

  Russia’s anticipated entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) next year is seen as good news for industrial mineral exporters, but those interested in the country’s vast rare earth deposits will have to wait years before they see new supply sources open up. Read More