Get documents about "Allocations of $825 Billion Stimulus Bill
W
Description
Allocations of $825 Billion Stimulus Bill document sample
Document Sample
MANGANESE MATTERS
January 29, 2009 - Issue n° 2
Table of Content 3
IMnI Upcoming Meetings
ExCo Meeting
Thursday, February 12, 2009
2 to 4PM
By Telecon
The Manganese Health Research Program (MHRP) is an ambitious
Mn Sustainability Strategy Workshop research program on the effects of manganese on human health.
Monday, February 16, 2008 Spearheaded in 2002 by the International Manganese Institute and
8:30AM to 5PM
Paris supported by US Congress and the US Military Operational Medicine
Research Program, the MHRP has received a total of $5.05 million in
REACH Technical Working Group
Tuesday, February 17, 2008
US government funding. The MHRP will be ending in January 2010.
9AM to 1PM This year’s Showcase Conference, June 24-25, aims to highlight the
Paris results of the MHRP-funded projects, determine data gaps and set
OHES Committee Meeting new directions for Mn-health research.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
2 to 5PM
Paris
Board Meeting
Thursday, February 19, 2009
10AM to 1PM
Paris
REACH Steering Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 19, 2009
2 to 5PM
Paris
Statistics Committee Meeting
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
9 to 10:30AM
Hong Kong
M&C Committee Meeting
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
2 to 4PM
Hong Kong
IMnI
17 rue Duphot
75001 Paris
France
Tel : +33 (0) 1 45 63 06 34
Fax : +33 (0) 1 42 89 42 92
E-mail : info@manganese.org
Web site : www.manganese.org
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 1
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
UPCOMING CONFERENCES
th
Ryan¹s Notes Metallics Meeting 10 Asian Ferro-Alloys
January 26-27, 2009 March 25-27, 2009
Miami, FL Hong Kong
Ferro-alloys.com IMnI 2009 Annual Conference
May 24-27, 2009 June 7-9, 2009
Beijing Dubai
MHRP Showcase Conference INFACON XII
June 24-25, 2009 June 6-9, 2010
Washington D.C. Helsinki
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 2
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ASIA (OTHER)
CHINA
Chinese ferroalloys weekly roundup ............................................................. 22/01/09
China’s FeMn prices up 16%, tracking steel market rally .............................. 21/01/09
China to push forward national stockpiles of rare metals and minerals ......... 16/01/09
INDIA
Indian metal market report: Plans afoot to protect ........................................ 27/01/09
India could ban chrome and manganese ore exports ................................... 27/01/09
Indian ferro-alloys roundup ........................................................................... 23/01/09
India's Mn ore producers oppose export ban ................................................ 23/01/09
No demand for manganese ore in Indian markets ........................................ 22/01/09
Indian market report: Ferro-alloy markets go quiet ....................................... 20/01/09
Indian ferro-alloys roundup — Markets pause for reflection .......................... 16/01/09
Asansol Alloys to set up a silico-manganese plant ....................................... 16/01/09
OCEANIA
ConsMin attacks head OM ........................................................................... 19/01/09
EUROPE
European silico-manganese prices fall 20%.................................................. 28/01/09
European ferro-manganese market slides to a slump………………………… 28/01/09
Eramet makes further output cuts................................................................. 21/01/09
CIS
Ukraine ferroalloys production falls in 2008 .................................................. 19/01/09
AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST
Gabon forecasts 25% cut in ’09 manganese production ............................... 27/01/09
Manganese-ore smelter Transalloys to close for two months ....................... 26/01/09
South Africa metals firms face jump in production costs ............................... 26/01/09
Ivory Coast manganese ore exports up 87% in 2008 ................................... 20/01/09
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 3
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
AMERICAS
U.S. ferro-alloys market writes off Q1 as demand sinks further…..…………. 28/01/09
Duration of Autlán plant idling unclear .......................................................... 27/01/09
Vale ups manganese output, trims ferroalloys in fourth qtr. .......................... 26/01/09
U.S. steel production heads back down........................................................ 21/01/09
US ferromanganese tags may have hit bottom, traders say ......................... 20/01/09
US FeMn prices stabilise losses, steel recovers ........................................... 19/01/09
Obama stimulus lacking adequate infrastructure spend – AISI ..................... 19/01/09
Essar will mine Fe, Cr, Mn ore in Brazil ........................................................ 19/01/09
DNSC concludes ferro-alloy sales programme ............................................. 16/01/09
GENERAL INFORMATION
Ryan’s Notes Weekly ................................................................................... 26/01/09
Global steel production down 1,2% in '08, Dec output plunges..................... 22/01/09
Macquarie slashes steel production forecasts for 200 .................................. 19/01/09
Ryan’s Notes Weekly ................................................................................... 19/01/09
MARKET ROUNDUP — Outlook still uncertain for most markets ................. 16/01/09
OHES & SCIENCE
************************
EMM
Chinese electro manganese metal price recovered…………………………… 29/01/09
European manganese prices consolidate gains ........................................... 21/01/09
Austenitic Stainless Steel Electrode for High Temperature Welding ............. 20/01/09
Chinese electrolytic manganese market cools down .................................... 16/01/09
EMD
Panasonic likely to post loss, close plants-Nikkei ......................................... 27/01/09
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 4
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
THE MANGANESE INDUSTRY
ASIA (OTHER)
CHINA
Chinese ferroalloys weekly roundup - Some markets remain firm despite holiday
Metal-Pages, 22/01/09
Despite the approaching weeklong holiday of Chinese Lunar New Year, some ferro-alloy markets,
particularly ferro-molybdenum, ferro-tungsten and manganese alloys, remain firm on either last minute
demand before holiday or low stock levels caused by production stoppages.
Price Movements
Prices are ex works, VAT duty paid or basis FOB Chinese ports unless otherwise stated. Metal-Pages
welcomes feedback from producers, traders and consumers; please email china@metal-pages.com or
phone +86-10-84672874
Commodities Prices today Prices last week
HC FeMn (domestic Mn 75%) Rmb8,600-9,000/mt Rmb8,600-9,000/mt
HC FeMn (FOB China Mn 75%) $1,750-1,850/mt $1,750-1,850/mt
SiMn (domestic 65/17 grade) Rmb7,800-8,600/mt Rmb7,800-8,500/mt
SiMn (FOB China) $1,380-1,420/mt $1,380-1,420/mt
Mn ore (Aus 44-46% Min) Rmb65-70/mtu Rmb65-70/mtu
Ferro-silicon (domestic) Rmb5,300-5,500/mt Rmb5,300-5,500/mt
Ferro-silicon (FOB China) $1,040-1,060/mt $1,040-1,060/mt
Mn flake (domestic) Rmb14,000-14,200/mt Rmb14,300-14,500/mt
Mn flake (FOB China) $2,700-2,750/mt $2,700-2,800/mt
Silicon
Chinese silicon metal prices have risen strongly during the last couple of weeks, driven by low
availability of spot material as a significant number of producer remain shut.
―The general production level is pretty low, and many suppliers are reluctant to sell off their stocks. But
some consumers are eager to buy in before the forthcoming Chinese holidays. These factors are driving
prices to move upward sharply,‖ a trade source said.
Despite the rapid price rise, many silicon smelters are reported to be reluctant to restart their closed
furnaces, traders said.
―A great deal of producers have yet to restart and they are just offering their stocks,‖ a second trader
said. ―The reasons could be that they are unsure how long the price rise will sustain or the current profit
margin is not satisfactory.‖
China exported a total of 665,460 tonnes of silicon metal in the first eleven months of 2008, up 6.6%
from 623,981 tonnes exported in the same period of 2007, according to Customs statistics.
China’s CSG Holdings Co., Ltd, a listed company on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, launched a
polysilicon production line with 1,500 tonnes per year of capacity in Yichang of central China’s Hubei
province, the company has announced.
European silicon prices have dropped as expected in the past couple of weeks in line with demand in
the aluminum sector, which has been impacted on the slumping domestic car sector. Free market
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 5
prices in standard secondary aluminium-grade (98.5% grade) (5-5-3) are at €1,900-1,950/tonne basis
FCA (free on truck), off €50. Better grades of low iron content silicon (4-4-1) are at €2,050-2,150/tonne
basis DDP (delivered duty paid), also down €50.
The Chinese domestic market for ferro-silicon has kept stable with prices largely unchanged as
compared to the previous week. The market activity is slowing down in the approach of the holiday and
most producers are just concentrating on production for old contracts, sources said.
The export market of the bulk alloy is reported to remain weak, with few overseas customers sending
enquiries to Chinese suppliers.
Manganese
Chinese silico-manganese prices have been holding steady at a three-month high during the last week
as the shortage of supply persists.
―With the current supply it is hard to meet all demand,‖ a bulk alloy trader said. ―Many producers remain
cautious about increasing their output as there are too many uncertain factors, particularly whether or
not the good demand will be sustained after the week-long holiday.‖
A second trader shared this sentiment, saying: ―The rising manganese ore price has narrowed
producers’ margin of profit and they have yet to get a clear picture of the pricing negotiations (for the
first quarter shipments) between Chinese producers and Australian miners.‖
The majority of market sources expect that the market will stay unchanged in the coming week and the
next because of decreasing activities amid the Chinese weeklong holiday starting January 25.
China’s ferro-manganese market has barely moved during the past week, with prices reported at Rmb
8,000-8,500/tonne ($1,173-1,246 before 20% export tax) for 65% min grade high carbon ferro-
manganese and $ 1,750-1,850/tonne FOB for 75% min grade high carbon material.
Medium carbon ferro-manganese with 78% min Mn content and 2% max C is around $2,100/tonne
FOB, a survey of market participants found.
China, the world largest consumer of manganese ores, imported a total of 7.0752 million tonnes during
January-November 2008, up 19.83% as compared to 5.9011 million tonnes imported in the same period
of 2007. Main suppliers in the Jan-Nov period were Australia, South Africa, Gabon and Brazil.
China’s electrolytic manganese market has returned to the downward path as demand quietens and the
earlier fast-moving price hikes fail to find much acceptance from consumers.
―There is flat demand from both domestic and overseas end-users. The production level of 200 series
stainless steels is at one of multi-year lows though some mills have increased their output slightly,‖ said
one trader.
European manganese flake prices have consolidated higher in the past week, with spot prices ranged
around $ 2,700-2,800 a tonne basis in-warehouse Rotterdam, with manganese lumps about $ 100
above that level.
China’s FeMn prices up 16%, tracking steel market rally
Metal Bulletin, 21/01/09
China's ferro-manganese prices have risen an average 16% since the beginning of this year to around
8,100-8,200 yuan ($1,184-1,199) per tonne.
Offers as high as 8,700-8,800 yuan per tonne have been reported in the Chinese market, which has
been encouraged by signs of recovery in the Chinese steel sector.
However, steel market participants have doubts about the sustainability of the steel market rally.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 6
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
"I believe the steel price increase has more to do with people's confidence in Beijing's efforts to rescue
the country's economy, in particular, the 4 trillion yuan stimulus package. No actual measures have
been implemented, so it is hard to say what result will be achieved," a steel analyst in Beijing said.
Ferro-silicon saw a wider and higher price range of 5,500-5,900 yuan per tonne this week.
At the same time, the export market for both alloys has remained quiet overall since the beginning of
this year, although a ferro-silicon exporter in Gansu province reported a modest pickup in enquiries and
recently higher transaction prices at $1,100 per tonne fob as against $1,070 per tonne fob at the end of
last year.
China to push forward national stockpiles of rare metals and minerals
Metal-Pages, 16/01/09
China is pushing forward its national stockpiles of oil and rare metals and minerals, according to the
newly announced "National Mining Resources Plan for 2008-2015".
"Stockpiles of mining resources are very necessary especially when there is strong demand for
resources and a big economic fluctuation," said a spokesperson at China's Ministry of Land and
Resources. "In view of the current economic situations and market conditions, it is a very good occasion
to carry out the stockpiles, which will be help protect our mining resources."
According to the Plan, China will set up stockpiles of oil and rare metals and minerals including copper,
chrome, manganese, tungsten and rare earths etc. Meantime, the Chinese government will set up an
efficient management mechanism, which is designed to enable both authorities and local enterprises to
take part in the stockpiles.
INDIA
Indian metal market report: Plans afoot to protect the reviving domestic market
Metal-Pages, 27/01/08
The Indian steel ministry has decided to push for a 10% import duty on steel items from the present five
and is expected to make a decision in a couple of days. If 10% duty is levied, imports would become
costlier and the consuming industry would prefer procuring the commodity from the domestic markets.
Domestic demand is already reviving, according to reports, and things are looking a bit better this week.
Although this is yet to be reflected in prices, companies are happy as rising demand will lead to better
cash flows, helping them meet their working capital needs.
Domestic steel producers had cut production to the tune of 25% in November 2008 due to low demand
from sectors like the automotive and consumer durables. The cut prevented further inventory pile-up,
and as a result demand and supply has been rebalanced. Indian steel mills can now operate at 80-85%
capacity provided there is no dumping of cheaper steel from abroad.
The country’s iron ore exports also surged 38% to 13.6 million tonnes (mt) in December 2008 as
compared with 9.8 mt in December 2007. According to figures compiled by the Federation of Indian
Mineral Industries (FIMI), iron ore exports in April-December 2008 fell 5.4 per cent to 64.47 mt from
68.15 mt in the corresponding period of 2007. China accounts for about 90% of India’s iron ore exports.
Iron ore stocks in China have come down from a high of 80 mt in October to 60 mt. This has resulted in
good demand for iron ore from exporting nations, including India. The reduction in export duty has also
helped.
MANGANESE ALLOYS
There has been a slight rise in ferro-manganese and silico-manganese prices as compared to last
month. The upward trend is due to buying from China and also low inventories, although the domestic
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 7
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
market has remained relatively steady. At times when the market had appeared dead but buying in
small quantities has sustained the domestic players who confirm that spot sales rather then long time
deals are the way to go.
CHROME AND MANGANESE ORE
The Indian ferro-alloys producers' association has called for a ban on export of chrome and manganese
ore. This is attributed to the concerns of a large-scale shortfall of the mineral’s supply which has hit the
domestic stainless steel and ferro-chrome industries. The decision was reached after seeing huge
companies like Tata Steel Ltd, the country’s largest producer and exporter of chrome ore, stopping the
supply of ore to domestic users and, instead, utilizing the material for its own expanding ferro-chrome
and chrome concentrate production. Manganese ore producers are doing the same. Concern over
supply of minerals is leading the domestic ferro-alloys industry to try and safeguard itself against raw
materials shortage.
INDIA DOMESTIC PRICE INDICATORS:
Product Prices today Prices last week
HC FeMn (Mn 70%) INR49,000-55,000/tonne INR49,000-55,000/tonne
SiMn (Mn 60%, Si14%) INR35,000-40,000/tonne INR38,000-40,000/tonne
HC FeCr (Cr 60%) INR35,000-40,000/tonne INR35,000-40,000/tonne
FeSi 75% INR 47,500-49,500/tonne INR 47,500-49,500/tonne
Cr Ore (48-49.99%Cr2O3) INR 4,976/tonne (OMC price) INR 4,976/tonne (OMC price)
Mn Ore (49.5%) INR13,405/ tonne (Moil price) INR13,405/ tonne (MOIL price)
India could ban chrome and manganese ore exports
Metal-Pages, 27/01/09
After calling for a ban on iron ore exports, India's ferro-alloy producers' association is now requesting
the country's government to put a ban on exports of chrome and manganese ore.
The move is prompted by the increasing shortage of ore in the domestic market, although some ferro-
alloy producers are against the proposed ban.
According to the government data, last year the Indian ferro-alloys industry used only a small part of its
total production capacity of 320,000 tonnes (including manganese alloys, ferro-silicon and chrome
alloys). "This fiscal too it will remain at this level, as ferro-alloy imports have reined in our capacity
utilisation," T.S. Sundaresan, Secretary General of the Indian Ferro Alloy Producers Association told the
press.
However imports of ferro-alloys are not worrying the producers as much as the increase in the volume
of India's ores being exported, which is forcing them to import these raw materials at higher costs.
India's ferro-alloys industry is estimated to have imported about 528,000 tonnes of manganese ore in
the last three years, valued at a total of about INR 3.95 billion. During the same period, the manganese
ore industry exported a total of 702,000 tonnes, valued at about INR 1.61 billion.
"If the manganese ore producers had not exported this quantity and had instead made it available to the
domestic ferro alloy industry, it would not have imported the ore that had resulted in a forex outgo of
INR 3.95 billion in the last three years," Sunderesan told the press.
Considering the projected increase in steel production and the corresponding rise in demand for
manganese alloys, the industry is estimated to require 2.6 million tonnes of the ore by 2011-12 to
produce the required quantity of ferro-alloys. The miners of this ore are mostly government-run, such
as the Orissa Mining Corporation and Manganese Ore India Ltd.
Chrome ore is another vital raw material required to make ferro-chrome and there is only one major
producer of this ore — the Orissa Mining Corporation. Chrome ore is used to make high carbon ferro-
chrome, which is a non-substitutable raw material in making stainless steel.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 8
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
Industry sources say that during the last three years, about 12,500 tonnes of chrome ore, valued at INR
0.16 billion, was imported into India. During the same period, the country's chrome ore miners exported
more than 30,000 tonnes of the ore. "The chrome ore industry produces about 3 million tonnes
annually, out of which more than 1 million tonnes is exported in the form of ore and concentrates. If
exports continue, the reserves of the proved category may deplete in another 10 years," an industry
source revealed.
Indian ferro-alloys roundup
Metal-Pages, 23/01/09
The Indian alloy market is driven by exports and demand from steel mills. However India’s biggest
market China is on a holiday and though Indian stainless steel prices have shown a rise, demand is
quiet.
The increase in stainless steel prices is attributed to increasing prices of nickel. Actual demand for has
not recovered yet, but the market thinks that the current price level may already be the bottom in the
short term.
As steelmakers are not buying raw materials, but traders said they were optimistic in their outlook as
demand may pick up after Chinese New Year. People are opting to buy from the spot markets rather
than inking any forward deals. However when demand revives there will be a severe shortage of
stocks. Right now steelmakers have very low inventories which they will need to build up once demand
revives.
MANGANESE ALLOYS
The price of silico-manganese has seen a slight improvement over December prices, but this isn’t a
major correction in any way. Prices are in the range of INR 38,000-40,000/tonne ($770-811/tonne) ex
works for silico-manganese 60/14 and INR 48,000-52,000/tonne ($973-1054/tonne) ex works for high
carbon ferro-manganese 70% for the moment. Unlike that of silico-manganese, the price of high carbon
ferro-manganese has been stable. There is no buying reported, and domestic markets are stable for the
moment, however the speculation is that the export markets will pick up in the coming month.
MANGANESE ORE
Manganese ore prices at the local markets have seen a little slide and are selling Manganese ore 40%
for around INR8,500- 9,000/tonne ($173.50-184/tonne). The even lower grade ore is being sold for INR
4,000 per tonne, but in spite of such low prices is failing to find buyers. The prices are said to have
reached their bottom limit.
INDIA DOMESTIC PRICE INDICATORS
Product Prices today Prices last week
HC FeMn (Mn 70%) INR49,000-55,000/tonne INR48,000-52,000/tonne
SiMn (Mn 60%, Si14%) INR38,000-40,000/tonne INR35,000-40,000/tonne
Manganese Ore (49.5%) INR13,405/ tonne (Moil price) INR13,405/ tonne (MOIL price)
India's Mn ore producers oppose export ban
Metal Bulletin, 23/01/09
India's manganese ore producers strongly oppose a proposed export ban by the Indian Ferro Alloy
Producers' Assn (Ifapa).
Ifapa wants to preserve manganese ore for the domestic alloys industry and has directed the call to the
steel ministry, whose support is needed to persuade the finance ministry to make the change.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 9
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
A prominent exporter of ore to China and Japan told MB that "certain types of manganese ore with low
manganese content of less than 34% and high iron content is being bought by foreign buyers but has
not much demand in India".
"Even high grade ores with higher phosphorus content can be exported and in its place, ferro-alloy
producers could import their requirements of low-phosphor ore," he said.
Manganese ore exports should continue in the wider interests of developing the manganese ore
industry in India, said manganese ore producers.
This is supported by the Federation of Indian Mineral Industry, which represents India's mineral
producers. It is also strongly opposed to any ban on chrome ore exports.
India has a shortage of manganese ore, particularly high-grade ore. The country produces around 2
million tpy of manganese ore but needs about 3 million tpy to meet projected steel production of 60-65
million tpy by 2010, and 5 million tpy for projected steel production of 110 million tonnes by 2020,
according to official figures.
No demand for manganese ore in Indian markets
Metal-Pages, 22/01/09
The Indian manganese ore market remains relatively flat with prices on the lower side and the market
does not expect to see any great correction in the coming days.
A source reported that prices for manganese ore in the local market were low, at INR 8500-9000 per
tonne ($173-183 per tonne). Deliveries of local manganese ore 40% were almost non-existent. "Most
smelters of manganese alloys are only running part of their capacity, so the demand for manganese ore
will not improve in the coming days," explained the source. However according to him prices of imported
ore remain high, but the demand still remains sluggish.
Another miner, whose output is around 2000 tonnes per month, has reduced its output and slashed
jobs. He confirmed that demand was very low for local ore of 25%-30%. He is offering the local ore at
INR 4000 per tonne ($81.5 per tonne) ex works. At these prices not many deals are still being
concluded according to him.
"There is no demand from Indian smelters and overseas buyers, which may last in the coming months,"
said another market trader. "However, I do not think the price of manganese ore will go down since the
current price has already touched its bottom line," he added.
Any further price decline will spell absolute doom for the industry which is already hanging on by a thin
thread. However the market sources are of the opinion that the manganese ore prices have reached
their bottom and there will be no further decline.
Indian market report: Ferro-alloy markets go quiet
Metal-Pages, 20/01/09
Last week began on a positive note for the Indian metal industry, but with decrease in the demand for
iron ore and steel as car makers cut down production the market failed to keep up its momentum.
The positive start of the week was attributed to increase in the shipment of iron ore into China, but as
being anticipated by many in the industry this is not being sustained. Chinese demand for iron ore has
declined as with carmakers such as General Motors cut output.
Iron ore inventories held at ports are also falling, although a greater share of the Chinese stockpile now
originates in India, as China has increased the shipment of iron ore from India to reduce its dependence
on Australian or Brazilian ore. Despite expectations that the falling inventories in China would prompt
fresh shipment of iron ore from India, this is yet to happen.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 10
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
The Chinese New Year just around the corner will mean a long holiday and reduced shipments of
material from India, and the markets are expected to stay quiet for a while.
MANGANESE ALLOYS
Indian manganese alloy market seems to be stable for the moment, with prices firm at INR40,000/tonne
($812.50/tonne) ex works for silico-manganese 60/14 and INR55,000/tonne ($1,117/tonne) ex works for
high carbon ferro-manganese 70%. Market participants believe the price will keep at this level in the
coming week. The export market may pick up a little in the coming month.
Indian ferro-alloys roundup — Markets pause for reflection
Metal-Pages, 16/01/09
Ferro-alloy producers in India are once again unsure which way the markets are heading.
There was a flash of hope when manganese alloy prices picked up a week ago, but that was a
temporary phase, riding on buying from China. The markets are not faring too well again, especially
where ore is concerned.
However analysts feel that there is only so much hammering the ferro-alloys market can take, and that it
is bound to bounce back at some point of time. That time might not be long in coming.
A recent Reuters report quoted Ian Henderson of JPM's Global Natural Resources Fund saying that
demand from China and India will support metals such as ferro-chrome and molybdenum, already hit by
falling demand from steel mills. Their production is often dominated by a limited number of producers.
"In some cases, because of the dominance of South Africa in terms of supply, we think that these
commodities can snap back," said Henderson.
MANGANESE ORE
Indian manganese ore miners are thinking of curbing their production. There are no buyers in the
market and smelters are idle. Miners have built up huge inventories and are feeling the liquidity crunch.
CHROME ORE
Chrome ore is stable where prices and demand is considered. Chinese buying has given the Indian
market some hope. However it is being speculated that once China reaches its fill of ferro-chrome and
has enough inventory build up, it will also stop importing from India. Unless and until demand for steel
does pick up properly in the international markets, Indian producers are skeptical about resuming
production.
MANGANESE ALLOYS
Ferro-manganese and silico-manganese have not been traded actively this week. Indian domestic
markets are extremely slow.
Some buying by Indian producers from markets like Bhutan has been seen, due to lower local prices
there. Generally people are buying to meet immediate requirements and in very small quantities. There
is no brisk trade reported in domestic markets.
INDIAN DOMESTIC PRICE INDICATORS
Product Prices today Prices last week
HC FeMn (Mn 70%) INR 48,000-52,000/tonne INR 48,000- 50,000/tonne
SiMn (Mn 60%, Si14%) INR 35,000-40,000/tonne INR 35,000 - 39,000/tonne
HC FeCr (Cr 60%) INR 33,000-40,000/tonne INR 33,000 - 37,000/tonne
Ferro-silicon (75%) INR 48,000/tonne INR 46,000-48,000/tonne
Molybdenum Oxide (57% min) INR 850 - 1,000/kg INR 850 - 1,000/kg
Ferro-vanadium (60%) INR 700 - 850/kg INR 700 - 850/kg
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 11
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
Mn Ore (49.5%) INR13,405/ tonne (Moil price) INR13,405/ tonne (MOIL price)
NB: Foreign exchange rate at 16 Jan 2009: 1 USD = 48.6145 INR
Asansol Alloys to set up a silico-manganese plant
Metal-Pages, 16/01/09
A private Indian company, Asansol Alloys Pvt. Ltd., has proposed to set up a 12,650 tpy silico-
manganese plant in Village Nakrajoria, in West Bengal.
Total project area is 4 acres and the cost of the project is INR 111,046,000 ($2.28 million).
Facility Phase-I Phase-II Total Capacity
Submerged Arc Furnace to 4,750 tpy 7,900 tpy 12,650 tpy
produce SiMn (3 MVA)
Manganese ore (19,008 tpy), manganese slag (12,667 tpy), coal (7,821 tpy), coke (1,683 tpy) and
quartz (3,168 tpy) will be used as raw materials.
Other consumables required for the project include electrode paste (316.8 tpy), casing sheet (38 tpy),
MS round (63.3 tpy), lancing pipe (63,360 m), oxygen (63,360 cb m). Silicon-manganese will be smelted
using a submerged arc furnace, with slag and metal will be tapped at regular intervals. The liquid metal
will be cast in moulds in thin cakes which will then be broken to require sizes after solidification,
weighed and packed.
The project has been granted a no objections certificate (NOC) by the State Forest Department, giving
way for the approval of the project. Total ground water requirement will be 60 m3/day and permission
has been obtained from West Bengal Ground Water Resources. Green belt will be established in 1.30
acres out of total 4 acres of the plant area.
OCEANIA
ConsMin attacks head OM
Business Spectator, 19/01/09
Manganese producer Consolidated Minerals and its Ukrainian billionaire owner Gennadiy Bogolyubov
are considering requisitioning their own shareholder meeting for the Singapore-based OM Holdings in
an attempt to reverse the recent shareholder vote.
ConsMin, which built up a 12 per cent stake in OM late last year at a cost of more than $60 million, is
angry over recent votes that have authorised the distribution of 37 million options to OM executives and
the addition of new bylaws that strengthen its defence against a bid.
It says last week’s meeting of OM shareholders generated proxy votes from less than 20 per cent of
shareholders, which it says reflects its contention that not enough notice was given to investors before
the meeting.
ConsMin says it is now considering its ―overall position‖ to ensure the value of its financial investment is
not further eroded, including the possibility of requisitioning its own meeting.
It is concerned that the dilutory effect of the 37 million options and the introduction of special takeover
protection provisions, including the suspension of the clause relating to compulsory acquisition if a
bidder reaches 90 per cent.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 12
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
ConsMin says the new options have no performance hurdles and will dilute shareholder interests by
around 12 per cent. It estimates the value of the options at around $27 million, with about half of that
going to OM managing director Peter Toth.
ConsMin has yet to formally announce advisors, although it is thought to have UBS, which advised
Bogolyubov on his hotly contested bid for ConsMin, in the background.
For the moment, this is essentially a legal battle, with ConsMin using the Mallesons Stephen Jaques
team of David Friedlander and the Perth-based David Perks, and OM using Franklyn Legal. OM is also
receiving financial advice from Euroz Securities.
EUROPE
European silico-manganese prices fall 20%
Metal-Pages, 28/01/09
The European silico-manganese market has fallen again in the past couple of weeks, with spot prices
reflecting business levels down to only a low drip of small tonnages, which are being used to
supplement seemingly plentiful consumer stocks, dealers said on Wednesday.
Silico-manganese spot prices are around €750-850 a tonne basis delivered, from more than €1,000 a
tonne.
―There will be more downside as Eramet and Ferroatlantica rid stock ahead of their shutdowns, and it
also sends message that they do not see the market getting better in the short term, or else they would
have held stock to sell in the coming weeks,‖ a dealer said.
―Steel makers may want to take some cheaper material now, but if they don’t they can always buy it
later, and who’s to say prices won’t be cheaper then?‖
France’s Eramet and Spain’s Ferroatlantica, which have recently announced major cuts in ferro-silicon
and manganese alloys, have been offering material at spot prices cheaper than Indian and Chinese
export offers, dealers said.
Eramet wants to unload stock ahead of its production cuts, according to industry talk, and has
announced a 65% cut in production, while Ferroatlantica has said it will cut production 70%.
The silico-manganese market in China, which is in the middle of a week-long New Year holiday, has
been steady at some $ 1,380-420 a tonne basis FOB in the past couple of weeks.
European ferro-manganese market slides to a slump
Metal-Pages, 28/01/09
European ferro-alloys prices have fallen again in the past couple of weeks against weak demand in the
steel sector, which is buying only small amounts in the spot market to supplement their stock
consumption, dealers told Metal-Pages on Wednesday.
High carbon ferro-manganese prices are down to €900-1,000 a tonne basis delivered works, from
€1,100-1,200 a tonne basis delivered works.
Refined ferro-manganese alloys prices, however, have slumped a quarter, with medium carbon at
€1,400-1,500 a tonne basis delivered works, from €1,900-2,000 a tonne, while low carbon material is
around €2,000-2,100, off three hundred.
―Europe has been under strong pressure in settlement terms, which have been quoted as low as €870 a
tonne to ArcelorMittal this month,‖ one dealer said.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 13
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
―However, below €900 a tonne is fairly isolated and most deals have been done at above that level,
although we would not rule out further weakness in the short term.‖
In longer term contract negotiations for first quarter settlements, dealers have agreed prices at around
€1,250 a tonne basis delivered, although there have been much cheaper offers in the spot market
recently.
France’s Eramet and Spain’s Ferroatlantica, which have recently announced major cuts in ferro-silicon
and manganese alloys, have been offering material at spot prices cheaper than Indian export offers,
dealers said. Eramet wants to unload stock ahead of its production cuts, according to industry talk, and
has announced a 65% cut in production, while Ferroatlantica has said it will cut production 70%.
High carbon and silico-manganese is generally busier than refined manganese alloys, which is being
quoted in a wider range due to more limited business. Major steel firms have been offered material as
cheap as €1,250 a tonne, and although the bulk of business has been more expensive, the market is
being further pressured on cheaper Asian offers.
―European steel makers have been buying enough ferro-alloys to meet their daily needs in the short
term, and they already have plenty of stocks it seems. Much of what is being bought is traders’ stocks,
with little inter-merchant business as the market is too cautious in present conditions," another dealer
said.
Dealers said stainless steel business has fallen the most, although it may have reached a bottom, while
speciality steels have slumped in line with the car industry, which may have further to fall.
Eramet makes further output cuts
Metal Bulletin, 21/01/09
France's Eramet SA announced deeper production cuts in its manganese and nickel divisions for the
first quarter this year as demand from steelmakers remained weak.
Eramet Manganese will reduce its output of ore by 600,000 tons in the first quarter to approximately 40
percent of capacity and cut alloy production by 150,000 tons to roughly 35 percent of capacity. The
company reduced manganese ore production by 23 percent in the fourth quarter last year compared
with the same period of 2007, and ore output for all of 2008 slipped 3 percent to 3.25 million tons.
Manganese alloy production also fell 23 percent in the fourth quarter last year and full-year output
shrank 7 percent to 708,000 tons.
"Beyond the first-quarter 2009, Eramet Manganese will continue to adjust ore and alloy output
according to demand trends. Nevertheless, Eramet Manganese remains able to address a market
upturn swiftly when it occurs," the company said in a statement.
Eramet Nickel, for its part, will unveil efforts to reduce costs in February, but given the current sales
outlook, the division has already lowered production to an annualized rate of 50,000 tons. Eramet
limited metallurgical nickel production to 51,000 tons last year, a 14-percent drop on 2007.
The company again said operating income in 2008 would likely come in flat or slightly above the
previous year, when operating income reached 1.2 billion euros. Eramet said it had more than 1 billion
euros ($1.3 billion) in cash at the end of last year.
U.S. subsidiary Eramet Marietta Inc. announced plans earlier this month to shut its special products
division indefinitely in early March, including ferrochrome operations, take its silicomanganese furnace
offline for 60 days in mid-March, idle one of two ferromanganese furnaces for 90 days in May and lay off
110 employees.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 14
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
CIS
Ukraine ferroalloys production falls in 2008
Metal-Pages, 19/01/09
Ferro-alloys production in Ukraine fell more than 19% year-on-year to some 1.42 million tonnes last
year, from around 1.75 million tonnes produced in the year before, UkrFa, an association of Ukrainian
ferro-alloy producers, said in a recently released report.
In 2008 Ukraine produced 895,000 tonnes of silico-manganese, down almost 27% year-on-year.
Ferro-manganese production increased about 1.5% to some 362,500 tonnes, while production of ferro-
silicon fell 30% to less than 153,000 tonnes and production of manganese metal fell 23% to 8,700
tonnes, UkrFa said.
Domestic producers cut production heavily in the fourth quarter of last year against weak domestic and
export demand. Ukraine’s biggest ferro-alloy producer, Nikopol, cut production almost 19% to nearly
829,000 tonnes last year, from 1.04 million tonnes in 2007.
Nikopol produced 570,400 tonnes of silico-manganese, down almost 24% year-on-year, and slightly
above 258,000 tonnes of ferro-manganese, off more than 5%.
AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST
Gabon forecasts 25% cut in ’09 manganese production
Metal-Pages, 27/01/09
West Africa’s Gabon is forecasting a 25% cut in manganese ore production due to weaker international
demand, according to local press reports.
L'Union quoted Mines and Oil Minister, Casimir Oye Mba, as saying that manganese production, which
totalled 3.25 million tonnes last year, will probably not exceed 2.5 million tonnes in 2009 after French
mining company Comilog, Gabon's only manganese miner, blamed falling demand, particularly in Asia.
Comilog, a subsidiary of France's Eramet, has been forced to cut investment 30% and will stop
production for up to six weeks this year and lay off some 1,500 workers for three weeks, the report said.
Manganese-ore smelter Transalloys to close for two months - Afro Minerals
Mining Weekly, 26/01/09
Production at the Transalloys manganese-ore smelting operation in South Africa would cease for two
months because of reduced current market demand, Afro Minerals Trading AG marketing manager
Patrick Huber said on Monday.
Huber said in an emailed communique from Switzerland that the reduced current market demand
provided an ideal opportunity for Transalloys to close, so that essential maintenance and furnace
rebuilds could be carried out, which were not possible while the plant was operational.
Transalloys acting services manager and production superintendent Eben Barnardo told Mining Weekly
Online earlier this months that 80% of Transalloys silcomanganese and medium-carbon
ferromanganese product was exported, involving the transport by road and rail of some 8 000 t of
finished product a month to the ports of Richards Bay and Durban.
Huber said that the market situation would be continually assessed to ensure that stocks were available
to satisfy customer requirements and to meet company commitments.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 15
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
Transalloys, which produced mainly refined silicomanganese and medium-carbon ferromanganese
alloys at Witbank, was bought from South Africa's Highveld Steel & Vanadium by the Renova group of
Russia, headed by Viktor Vekselberg.
Two months was currently the best estimate of the duration of plant closure, and the essential
maintenance referred to would include work on raw-material feeder systems, conveyors and cranes.
Huber said that those Transalloys employees who were not required for the maintenance programme,
would be permitted to take leave for the two-month period, utilising accumulated leave. Any shortfall of
leave days would be debited against future leave entitlements.
Renova had planned to build an additional smelting factory at Coega, but owing to the current poor
market conditions and power-supply uncertainty, the Russian company had the project on hold for the
time being. Also in the Renova group was United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK), which supplied
manganese ore to Transalloys for smelting.
A UMK mine official, Lance Aukette, who said the UMK mine was also part of the Renova group,
referred Mining Weekly Online to project director Richard Curtis and company executive, Wilrich
Schroeder, but neither was available for comment at the time of going to press.
South Africa metals firms face jump in production costs
Metal-Pages, 26/01/09
South African metals producers of ferro-chrome, manganese and stainless steel may have to pay much
more in production costs this year after national power provider Eskom warned of a jump in utility bills.
Although Eskom is yet to submit its tariff increase application to the National Energy Regulator of South
Africa (Nersa), the utility has warned that its 343 billion rand ($33.5 billion) capital expansion
programme will be accompanied by a ―significant‖ increase in tariffs.
There was controversy last year when Eskom proposed a 53% increase in electricity tariffs.
However, Eskom chief executive Jacob Maroga said it had yet to finalise an application for tariff
increases to Nersa. He said Eskom was anticipating a 3% drop in demand for 2008/9 mostly due to
smelters cutting production in ferro-chrome, and carbon and stainless steel.
Eskom expected demand in 2009/10 will be flat and expected that level to start increasing above only
1% the year after.
Ivory Coast manganese ore exports up 87% in 2008
Metal-Pages, 20/01/09
Last year Ivory Coast exported 176,561 tonnes of manganese ore, a jump of 87% on the 94,618 tonnes
shipped the year before, official port data showed this week.
Shipments are up due to India's Taurian, which started mining manganese late in 2007. However,
December 2008 exports totalled 15,541 tonnes, down 9% on the 17,018 tonnes shipped in December
2007.
No further details were available.
Last October Taurian Resources considered suspending its manganese mining operations in Ivory
Coast after the shooting of an employee.
The attack came two months after the militant Youth Movement for the Renaissance of Bondoukou
organised violent demonstrations against Taurian to push for more direct revenue from the mine, 320
kilometres north-east of Abidjan.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 16
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
AMERICAS
U.S. ferro-alloys market writes off Q1 as demand sinks further
Metal-Pages, 28/01/09
The ferro-alloys market is bracing for a tough first quarter as steel mills report deteriorating market
conditions and continue to work off high cost inventory.
Both AK Steel Corp and U.S. Steel Corp. forecast Tuesday that first quarter earnings would be
impacted by further softness in key end-user markets.
Confirmation of fresh headwinds facing the carbon and stainless steel sectors is unlikely to bring much
cheer to the beleaguered U.S. ferro-alloys markets, which has seen prices nosedive amid a major
slump in sales volumes.
―The earnings reports and the forecasts for the first quarter are very concerning and in many ways just
confirm what most suppliers are experiencing right now,‖ said one ferro-chrome trader.
―There have been a lot of furnaces taken down and stock holders continue to run down supplies, which
is eroding prices.‖
Domestic raw steel production for the week ending January 24 was 1,025,000 net tons, down 2% from
the 1,045,000 tons reported a week earlier, as mills operated at a utilization rate of 43.1%, according to
latest figures from the American Iron and Steel Institute.
―It’s really tough out there and there’s very little business across the board. And there’s nothing I’ve
seen to suggest that this thing is going to turn around in the near-term,‖ said a ferro-alloys trader.
―There’s still a lot of high cost inventory being worked down by both the mills and service centers.‖
Traders believe that prices could face renewed downward pressure in the coming weeks if consumers
do not start to replenish stocks. But they note that most ferro-alloy prices are now nearing a bottom and
any downward movement could be minimal.
Despite the bearish outlook for the first quarter, most traders and analysts are optimistic that the second
quarter could see service centers and mills come back into the market due to depleted stocks and
improved order books.
Independent steel analyst Charles Bradford told Metal-Pages that he is sticking by his previous
forecasts of a slight up tick in steel demand in the spring.
―Actual usage of steel is not that bad, but that’s not to say it’s that good either. The problem has been
that orders have dropped because a lot of customers are working down high cost inventory. But at
some point inventory levels will reach a point where customers have to start buying again,‖ he said.
―I’ve been saying for the past fourth months that things should pick up in the spring, which is normally
the time of year we see a turnaround. But that’s not to say that things are going back to where they
were.‖
An executive at one ferro-alloys producer agreed and said that steel mills will be forced back into the
market at some point, which could lift prices as supplies dwindle due producer cutbacks and merchants
refusing to bring in replacement material.
―There has been a lot of cutbacks by the producers and many mills are getting close to running
extremely low inventory levels of both raw materials and finished products,‖ he said.
―So any increase in demand will reverberate across the supply base and probably have a fairly
immediate affect because stocks are low and the material will be required quickly. A lot of people seem
to think this could happen in the second quarter, but the big question of course is when exactly.‖
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 17
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
Duration of Autlán plant idling unclear
Metal Bulletin, 27/0109
Mexican manganese producer Minera Autlán SAB de CV is unclear on how long its Gomez Palacio
ferroalloys plant in the northern state of Durango will remain idled, but the plant's workers will remain on
payroll, a company spokeswoman told AMM.
Adverse market conditions led the company to shut down the plant, which has two electrical furnaces
and accounts for about 14 percent of Autlán’s ferroalloys production, in November, the spokeswoman
confirmed.
The company's ferroalloys production has also been cut back at its Teziutlan plant, located in the
central state of Puebla. That facility has a staff of 300.
"The global crisis has severely impacted the mining industry, and already in Mexico mining projects are
being cancelled, plants are closing and work stoppages are planned," according to Mexican mining
association Camera Minera de Mexico (Camimex).
Baja Mining Corp., Vancouver, British Columbia, for example, stopped construction of a $540-million
copper, zinc and cobalt mine in the northwestern state of Baja California Sur, while Minera Nuevo
Monte SA de CV closed a zinc mine in the state of Hidalgo that had produced 75,000 tonnes a month.
Cia. Minera del Norte SA de CV (Minosa), a subsidiary of Mexico's largest steelmaker, Altos Hornos de
Mexico SAB de CV (Ahmsa), also stopped iron ore production at its La Perla division in the northern
state of Chihuahua for at least six months, Camimex added.
Vale ups manganese output, trims ferroalloys in fourth qtr.
Metal Bulletin, 26/01/09
Brazilian miner Vale produced 491,000 tonnes of manganese ore in the fourth quarter, up a whopping
316 percent from the same period a year earlier, but cut ferroalloy output by 38.6 percent to 84,000
tonnes.
Manganese ore production dropped 29.2 percent compared with the third quarter, however, and
ferroalloy output fell 35.5 percent.
Vale closed its manganese ore mines and ferroalloy plants in Brazil in December last year and does not
plan to open them again until next month. The miner also halted production at its ferroalloy plant in
Dunkirk, France, in August and will keep it idle until at least April, and has extended maintenance on the
furnace at the Mo I Rana ferroalloys plant in Norway until June.
Manganese ore production for the full year jumped 78.7 percent to 2.38 million tonnes, but ferroalloy
output was down 12.4 percent to 475,000 tonnes (213,400 tonnes of ferrosilicon manganese, 209,400
tonnes of high-carbon manganese and 51,900 tonnes of medium-carbon manganese).
Fourth-quarter nickel production totaled 73,200 tonnes, up 1.1 percent from a year earlier as a 56.6-
percent increase in nickel output at Sudbury, Ontario, offset declines at Sorowako in Indonesia and
Voisey's Bay and Thompson in Canada.
Finished nickel production for all of 2008 reached an all-time high of 275,400 tonnes, up 11.1 percent
from 2007, with Voisey's Bay leading the way with a 31.6-percent increase and Sudbury following with a
20.6-percent rise.
Vale said last month it would halt nickel production at the Copper Cliff South Mine in Sudbury in January
for an undetermined amount of time and stop nickel and copper production at Voisey's Bay in
Newfoundland in July. Vale also said it would put off development of the $814-million Copper Cliff Deep
project for a year (AMM, Dec. 5). The company previously announced plans to cut nickel production by
65 percent in China and by 20 percent in Indonesia.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 18
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
Metallurgical coal production was down 7.2 percent to 703,000 tonnes in the fourth quarter compared
with a year earlier, but jumped 59.2 percent to more than 2.8 million tonnes for the full year.
Vale's iron ore production fell 21 percent to nearly 63.3 million tonnes in the fourth quarter, while output
for the full year slipped 0.5 percent to 301.7 million tonnes, the company's first drop in annual output
since 1999.
According to press reports, Vale plans to invest $14 billion this year compared with $10 billion in 2008,
and expects a rebound in demand this year despite an ongoing global economic slump.
U.S. steel production heads back down
Metal-Pages, 21/01/09
Production of raw steel in the United States has fallen back down after two weeks of rising output
against a background of waning demand.
Domestic raw steel production for the week ending January 17 this year totaled 1,045,000 tonnes, down
1.6% from 1,062,000 tonnes the week prior, according to latest figures from the American Iron and
Steel Institute.
Mills in the U.S. operated at a capability utilisation rate of 43.8% compared with 44.5% the previous
week.
For the year-to-date, production through January 17 was 2,479,000 tonnes at a capacity utilisation rate
of 42.6%. That is a 52.6% drop from 5,229,000 tonnes in the same period last year, when the capability
utilization rate was 90.3%.
US ferromanganese tags may have hit bottom, traders say
Metal Bulletin, 20/01/09
Prices for ferromanganese and silicomanganese in the United States are now less than half what they
were only a few months ago, but some traders and producers think they may have touched bottom and
are moving up slightly.
"Demand is obviously not good and prices are down considerably," a New York trader said. "We're
seeing some bottoming out, but maybe only because (ferroalloy) producers won't go any lower."
Sources quoted current spot market prices of 47 to 52 cents a pound for silicomanganese, $1,250 to
$1,350 a tonne for high-carbon ferromanganese and $1.25 to $1.50 a pound for medium-carbon
ferromanganese.
At the start of the fourth quarter, AMM reported prices of $1.08 to $1.13 pound for silicomanganese,
$3,100 to $3,200 a tonne for high-carbon ferromanganese and $2.33 to $2.40 a pound for medium-
carbon ferromanganese.
"No one is making money at these prices and everyone is holding out," a source at a domestic producer
said. "I'd rather stockpile material than sell at this price."
However, he predicted prices would go up a tad in the first quarter and then improve further in the
second quarter, although they aren't likely to reach last year's levels. "We're already seeing a bit of a
creep," he said. "I expect a little bit of a bounce in February and I'd be surprised if silicomanganese
wasn't 60 cents a pound by then. It's still a crap number, but it's survivable."
However, a lack of visibility has turned the market into a guessing game, the producer source said. No
new business is coming in, larger buyers are holding off on making commitments and suppliers are
unwilling to sign long-term deals at current prices. "I wouldn't commit to 50 cents a pound. There's no
way. No one wants to tie themselves in at these prices," he said.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 19
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
"I would love to lock in long-term contracts at current prices but the suppliers won't do it," said a
purchasing agent at a U.S. steelmaker. "They obviously expect prices to go up."
Volumes have declined along with prices as steel mills limp along at less than half of production
capacity. Producers, traders and buyers said quantities have plunged 60 to 70 percent since the
beginning of 2008.
"The first quarter is already a write-off but things have to get better because they can't get much worse,"
the trader said, "but until I see real proof that demand is back, it's hard to be optimistic."
The purchasing agent said his company was buying roughly half the amount of ferroalloys it bought at
the same time last year and at greatly reduced prices. "We predict we'll need 50 percent less than
normal, but that could change," he said. "In the short term, I don't see an increase in steel demand. In
the long term, well, everything goes up in the long term. Is this the bottom? We've seen
silicomanganese go down to 27 cents a pound, so I don't know."
A source at one North American producer said his plant is running at 50-percent of capacity, but he
expects it to crank back up to 100 percent in the next few weeks with an eye on the Chinese market,
while another producer recently announced plans to idle its silicomanganese furnace for 60 days in mid-
March and turn off one of two ferromanganese furnaces for 90 days in May.
"If they cut production by 50 percent, they're just now getting in line with demand," the purchasing agent
said. "No one was swift enough or aggressive enough," he said of the wave of production cuts by
steelmakers and raw material producers. "The decisions are now much more difficult and there's no
visibility."
"The question is whether these cutbacks are deep enough," the trader said.
"Our inventories were pretty low through September last year, but then our order book dropped off a cliff
in the fourth quarter," another domestic producer said. "No one has any foresight beyond a week or so."
The first producer said the market commonly goes through such cycles and things would eventually pick
up, as they do every 10 years or so. "We're like a ship adrift on the ocean, just waiting for a good, stiff
breeze," he said.
US FeMn prices stabilise losses, steel recovers
Metal-Pages, 19/01/09
Spot ferro-manganese alloy prices in the United States have been steady in the past couple of weeks,
stabilising losses that saw the market fall more than a third since November as domestic steel mills cut
production against slumping demand, dealers told Metal-Pages on Monday.
Medium carbon material is around to $ 1.30-1.45/lb basis delivered, while high carbon ferro-manganese
has steadied at $ 1,500-1,550 a long ton basis delivered.
There had been increasing signs that US bulk alloys prices may have reached a floor after heavy losses
in recent months, with lead times for flat steels, such as hot-rolled and old-rolled coils, now pushing out
to March. Steel coil prices have increased some $ 10-15 a short ton to an average of some $ 560 a
short ton in the States this month, dealers said.
―Steel makers have increased their steel prices in response to their customers returning,‖ one dealer
said.
―It’s not been a big recovery in demand, although it’s a trend they see persisting in the coming weeks as
inventories have been run down since the last quarter.‖
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, US steel mills worked at some 44.5% of capacity in
the week ending the 10th of January, from only 36% in the week before. US liquid steel production
increased almost 200,000 short tons to 1.06 million tons, from 866,000 tons.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 20
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
Yet that steel production increase is partly due to increased production after year-end seasonal holiday
maintenance, said dealers, who are cautious about the strength of any recovery.
―It is a positive sign (steel price increases), although we should not get carried away,‖ another dealer
said.
―Steel production in the States is still well down from more than 90% production rates 12 months ago
and the ferro-alloys spot markets are quiet, while the longer term deals have been even quieter.‖
Dealers pointed to recent news that the world’s biggest steel maker, ArcelorMittal, will shut one of its
North American furnaces in Ontario, Canada, on Monday until April.
The US economy has officially been in recession since December 2007, according to the National
Bureau of Economic Research, the US committee of economists responsible for dating the country’s
business cycles.
Obama stimulus lacking adequate infrastructure spend – AISI
Metal-Pages, 19/01/09
Leaders of the steel industry have slammed the $ 825 billion economic stimulus package unveiled by
the incumbent Obama administration for lacking adequate funding for infrastructure programs.
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) said it was disappointment that the transportation
infrastructure portion of the bill only accounts for 11% of the overall funding and is a concern for not only
the steel industry, but manufacturers in general.
―Over the past few weeks, economists across the board have noted that the best way to create jobs and
return our economy to vitality is to spend federal money on roads, bridges and other infrastructure
projects, which would help to put people both in manufacturing and construction directly back to work,‖
said Thomas J. Gibson, president and ceo of AISI.
―Not recognizing the importance of this is a grave oversight. We would like to see the portion of the
stimulus bill designated for public works projects to be significantly expanded.‖
Under the two-year plan approved last week, the administration is set to apportion $ 90 billion towards
modernizing roads, bridges, transit and waterways.
The U.S. steel industry has been hit hard by the fallout of the economic slowdown with production
across the sector being curtailed.
Production of raw steel in the United States totaled 1,062,000 net tons for the week ending January 10,
while mills operated at a utilization rate of 44.5%.
Participants in the ferro-alloys market, which supplies into the carbon and stainless steel industry, told
MP last week that any government-backed works program would take time to filter through to the supply
base.
They also noted that any positive impact from the infrastructure rebuild could be more than offset by an
on-going slump in other key end-user sectors such as automotive and commercial construction.
Meanwhile, the Buy America Coalition, which includes the AISI, said it supported new legislation that
would require all federally funded construction projects to use 100% American-made steel products.
Essar will mine Fe, Cr, Mn ore in Brazil
Metal-Pages, 19/01/09
Indian steelmaker Essar group has acquired mining concessions from the Departmento Nacional de
Producao Mineral, Government of Brazil in Amapa, North Brazil.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 21
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
This will help the company to cater to its proposed steel plant in Trinidad & Tobago in the South
Caribbean, since the proposed site is close to the Brazilian deposits. The 2.5 million tpy steel plant in
Trinidad & Tobago is part of the group's plan of achieving a capacity of 20 to 25 million tonne by 2012
from the present level of 8 million tonne.
Essar will go ahead with a full-scale mining licence based on results of the exploration. The exploration
survey is expected to take around six to eight months, and, as part of the concession, Essar will be able
to conduct exploratory mining for iron ore, manganese ore, chrome ore or any other available mineral.
The area that Essar has earmarked for exploration measures 7,851.69 hectares and is one of the larger
deposits in the district.
DNSC concludes ferro-alloy sales programme
Metal-Pages, 16/01/09
The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency - Defense National Stockpile Center (DNSC) has announced the
conclusion of its Strategic Supply Alliance (SSA) sales programme for ferro-alloys, DLA-
FERROALLOYS-001.
Below is a summary of the SSA sales program for ferroalloys since its beginning in February 2008
through January 2009:
Type Amount Sold (ST: short tons)
Ferromanganese 5,001 ST
For more information concerning the SSA, please visit the DNSC website at https://www.dnsc.dla.mil.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Ryan’s Notes Weekly
Ryan’s Notes, 26/01/09
False optimism on bulk ferroalloys?
The conventional wisdom in the bulk ferroalloys market, especially espoused by sellers, is that the
market has finally leveled off and the next move, whenever that happens, will be up. However, not
everyone is sold on that concept. "I keep hearing that replacement costs, especially from China, are
higher and there is no material in the pipeline," one buyer said. "However, when I tender I keep getting
lower, albeit not much lower, prices."
The problem is that not everyone is concerned about replacement costs. There is a significant amount
of unsold material available that must be sold first. And, the people holding the stocks are taking any
opportunity to sell them. In addition, producers and their agents don’t have to worry about replacement
costs.
In the US, merchants only make up a minority of total suppliers and most of the mills get their bulk
ferroalloys directly from producers or agents. "Producers price their material differently," one consumer
said, "depending on their inventory situation, market share and customer relationship. Replacement
costs don’t really apply." In the US, a mill reportedly purchased 75% ferrosilicon at around 60¢, ex
warehouse, well below replacement cost.
An Italian mill, ABS, reportedly has given suppliers an ultimatum— either renegotiate the terms of the
existing contracts or don’t get paid for outstanding invoices. The mill said that it has encountered difficult
business conditions, and it was unable to pay outstanding invoices dating back to November. "We
delivered the material in September and waited the normal
60 days to get paid, but we never got paid," one supplier said. "Now we get this letter. This is extortion."
Low FeSi prices in the EC
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 22
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
EC ferrosilicon sellers were complaining about Elkem, saying that the Norwegian producer was
dumping material at prices well below the market, even for Chinese material. "With the collapse of the
Icelandic economy and currency, it costs virtually nothing for Elkem’s Icelandic Alloys’ ferrosilicon
smelter to produce material," one competitor complained. "I am being under priced by €80 per mt.‖
Eramet Marietta may be revising its cutback plans. Instead of taking its #1 silicomanganese furnace
offline in mid- March for at least 60 days, the company may continue operating the unit at a reduced
load. Instead, the company will push forward the date for idling its small #12 high-carbon
ferromanganese furnace to early March.
Eramet Manganese was forced to take an even deeper cut in its manganese ore and alloy output. The
company will reduce its first-quarter ore production in Gabon (Comilog) to approximately 40% of
capacity, or a 600,000-mtpy reduction (Ryan’s Notes, Jan. 19, p4). On Dec. 9, Eramet said it would cut
its ore production by 23% in the fourth quarter of 2008, compared with the same period in 2007. For
2008, Eramet Manganese’s production totaled 3.25-million mt of ore, a slight decrease (3%) from 2007.
Eramet Manganese will also reduce its manganese alloy production to approximately 35%, a 150,000-
mt reduction for the first quarter of 2009. Eramet Manganese will continue to adjust ore and alloy output
according to demand trends.
It is thought that Eramet never reopened its Sauda high-carbon ferromanganese plant in Norway. The
facility was shut on Sept. 2, 2008 for what was expected to be 90 days to increase the smelter’s
capacity. When it finally reopens, Sauda’s high-carbon ferromanganese output will be increased by
50,000 mtpy, most of which will be converted to medium- and low-carbon ferromanganese.
Felman Productions was warming up its large silicomanganese furnace last week, and has no current
plans to take offline either of its two smaller units at least until April.
The US imported 285,782.1 mt of high-carbon ferromanganese in the first 11 months of 2008 and
31,191 mt in November—the second highest monthly total in 2008; in the same 2007 periods, US
imports were 195,853.1 mt and 20,577.3 mt, respectively. Major suppliers in the first 11 months of 2008
(November 2008 in parentheses) were: South Africa, 154,833 mt (7,887.2 mt); China, 37,398.8 mt
(1,345 mt); Ukraine, 24,707.3 mt (9,937.4 mt); Korea, 21,636.1 mt (3,298 mt); and India, 20,042.8 mt
(1,345 mt). Imports from Spain in November were 4,000 mt. US imports of low-carbon ferromanganese
were 49,875.3 mt in the first 11 months of 2008 and 3,873.9 mt in November vs. 44,801.2 mt and
1,873.7 mt, respectively, in the same 2007 periods. Major suppliers in November were China (2,300 mt)
and Mexico (1,073.9 mt). The US imported 92,784 mt of medium-carbon ferromanganese in the first 11
months of 2008 and 2,617.1 mt in November—the lowest monthly total in 2008; in the same 2007
periods, imports were 45,523.2 mt and 3,788.7 mt, respectively. The major suppliers in the first 11
months of 2008 (same 2007 period in parentheses) were China, 39,103.5 mt (10,632.4 mt); South
Africa, 26,179 mt (20,955.6 mt); Mexico, 11,561.3 mt (8,144.7 mt); Korea, 7,600 mt (3,800 mt); and
Georgia, 4,481.1 mt. US imports of 55-80% ferrosilicon were 208,280.7 mt in the first 11 months of
2008 and 10,318.2 mt in November vs. 232,804.8 mt and 13,245.9 mt, respectively, in the same 2007
periods. Major suppliers in the first 11 months of 2008 (November in parentheses) were China,
120,678.9 mt (7,873.4 mt); Russia, 53,166.6 mt (1,281.9 mt); Venezuela, 18,950 mt (0); and Canada,
10,721.9 mt (670.2 mt).
US imports of silicomanganese were 349,654.9 mt in the first 11 months of 2008 and 31,261.7 mt in
November vs. 362,804.6 mt and 37,206.9 mt, respectively, in the same 2007 periods. Major suppliers in
the first 11 months of 2008 (November in parentheses) were: South Africa, 142,707.2 mt (11,233 mt);
Norway, 72,059.8 mt (11,900 mt) Georgia, 59,802.5 mt (5,599.2 mt); and Australia, 34,782.9 mt (362
mt).
Vale closes Brazilian Mn alloy plants
Vale closed its manganese alloy mines and ferroalloy plants in Brazil in December 2008 and is not
expected to resume production at these operations until February 2009. The company produced
475,000 mt of manganese alloys in 2008—213,400 mt of silicomanganese, 209,400 mt of high-carbon
ferromanganese and 51,900 mt of medium-carbon ferromanganese. Production in 2007 was 542,000
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 23
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
mt. Vale extended the furnace maintenance shutdown at Mo I Rana until June 2009, while ferroalloy
production in Dunkerque won’t resume until April 2009 after being closed in August 2008. Manganese
alloy production in the fourth quarter fell to 84,000 mt—59,000 mt in Brazil, and 21,000 mt at Mo I Rana;
third quarter output was 130,000 mt. Vale produced 2,383,000 mt of manganese ore in 2008 vs.
1,333,000 mt in 2007. However, fourth-quarter 2008 output fell to 491,000 mt from 694,000 mt in the
third quarter of 2008.
China has allocated the first round of 2009 export quotas for silicon carbide to 91 companies. Atotal of
107,989 mt of quotas were awarded vs. 107,996 mt to 94 firms in the first round of 2008. The top five
awardees are: Minmetals, 9,846 mt (10,859 mt in the first round of allocations for 2008), China
abrasives Import & Export Corp., 7,568 mt (7,414 mt); Ningxia Oceanwide Minmetals Corp., 5,371 mt
(5,408 mt); Liaoning Jiayi Metals and Minerals Co., 3,793 mt (4,385 mt); and Saint Gobain
(Lianyungang) Ceramics, 3,485 mt (3,440
mt). The bid price was around 250-260 yuan per mt.
Samancor Manganese produced 181,000 mt of manganese alloys (112,000 mt in South Africa and
69,000 mt in Australia) in the fourth quarter of 2008 vs. 203,000 mt in the third quarter of 2008 and
209,000 mt in the fourth quarter of 2007. In the second half of 2008, alloy production was 384,000 mt
vs. 393,000 mt in the same year-ago period. The company’s output of manganese ore was 1,412,000
mt (755,000 mt from South Africa and 657,000 mt from Australia) in the fourth quarter of 2008
compared to 1,830,000 mt in the third quarter of 2008 and 1,613,000 mt in the fourth quarter of 2007. In
the second half of 2008, Samancor Manganese saleable ore output was 3,242,000 mt vs. 3,058,000 mt
in the same 2007 period. The higher ore output in the second half of 2008 vs. the same 2007 period
was due to improved mine performance at Hotazel in South Africa and increased availability of rail and
port capacity.
Samancor Manganese’s expansion at the Gemco mine in Australia is 77% complete which will add 1-
million mtpy of additional manganese concentrate output in the first half of 2009.
Global steel production down 1,2% in '08, Dec output plunges
Mining Weekly, 22/01/09
China, a country that doubled its steel output within five years, has become the first country ever to
produce more than 500-million tons of steel in one year, the World Steel Association (WSA) reported on
Thursday.
China’s crude steel output jumped 2,6% in 2008 to 502-million tons, and the country now produced 38%
of the world’s total steel output, the association, formerly the International Iron and Steel Institute said in
its latest steel report.
The world’s total steel production fell by 1,2% last year, however, the WSA reported that 2008 was the
second consecutive year that more than 1,3-billion tons of steel were produced.
Apart from Asia and the Middle East, output slowed in all major steel producing countries and regions,
including the European Union (EU), North America, South America and the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS).
The global steel output decline started to gain pace from September to year-end, as the recession
started to affect nearly all major producing countries.
December’s output plunged by 24,3%, when compared with the same month in 2007.
The WSA reported that Asia had produced 770-million tons in 2008, which accounted for 58% of the
total steel production, and was 1,9% more than in 2007.
South Korea and India recorded increases of 3,8% and 3,7%, respectively. Japan produced 118-million
tons in 2008, which was 1,2% less than 2007.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 24
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
The EU countries produced 5,3% less steel in 2008 than in 2007, with output only reaching 199-million
tons. The association reported that major steel producing countries, including Germany, Italy and
France, had recorded reductions.
North America’s output also fell by 5,5% in the year, with the US producing 91-million tons, some 6,8%
less than the year before.
Overall, the CIS showed a decrease of 8,1% in 2008. Russia produced 69-million tons of crude steel,
which was a 5,4% reduction over 2007, while Ukraine recorded a decrease of 13,1% with year-end
figures of 37-million tons.
Macquarie slashes steel production forecasts for 2009
Metal-Pages, 19/01/09
Australia’s Macquarie Bank has slashed its steel production forecast almost 10% for this year, in its
latest report.
This year’s steel production and iron ore trade are forecast to drop 8% and 5% respectively, compared
with last year, it said. The bank has cut its respective forecasts 18% and 14% since this time last year.
In 2009, carbon steel production is expected to fall to 1.232 billion tonnes, from 1.339 billion tonnes in
2008. Total iron ore seaborne trade is expected to drop to 829 million tonnes, from 870 million tonnes.
"We are expecting further weakness in commodity prices in the next 6-9 months,‖ it said.
Major production cuts among steel makers are stabilising and rebalancing markets, but an overhang will
still prevent strong growth, the report said. However, world recession prospects in 2009 have changed
the outlook dramatically and prices are unlikely to rebound to last year's highs, it said.
Ryan’s Notes Weekly
Ryan’s Notes, 19/01/09
There wasn’t much demand for bulk ferroalloys in the US last week, but there was a lot of talk about
them. Ferrosilicon suppliers were warning of higher prices because of a growing shortage of nearby
material. "No one is replacing because Chinese prices are too high to make it profitable," one merchant
warned. On the other hand, a large US mill told its ferrosilicon suppliers that it will defer taking any
material until the end of February due to a lack of business.
Both high-carbon ferromanganese and silicomanganese tags were being talked up on warnings that
foreign suppliers weren’t interested in shipping at current levels. Dealers reported higher prices in
intermerchant trading, but business to consumers has yet to materialize. "It’s hard to justify higher
prices when the economy is still sinking," one buyer said. "Merchants can intertrade all they want, but
consumers aren’t interested.‖
There was very little activity in the Chinese bulk ferroalloy market last week, though a few large
ferrosilicon smelters held another "crisis" meeting to adopt a new strategy to firm prices. "The Chinese
feel they are the world’s largest suppliers and can control the market," one analyst pointed out.
"However, they fail to recognize that the industry is too fragmented for any effective coordination." The
Chinese government is considering adding manganese to its strategic stockpile.
DLA did not sell any high-carbon ferromanganese at this month’s BOA sale.
Ferroatlantica reduced its manganese alloy (high-carbon and medium-carbon ferromanganese and
silicomanganese) and ferrosilicon production by 70% at its Spanish plants. The plants won’t return to
normal production until demand improves. The company’s Spanish plants include Monzon, Boo,
Dumbria and Cee. Ferroatlantica has the capacity to produce 259,000 mtpy of manganese alloys,
including 38,000 mtpy at its Ferroven plant in Venezuela, 218,000 mtpy of silicomanganese and
175,000 mtpy of ferrosilicon, including 84,000 mtpy at Ferroven.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 25
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
Eramet appears to be slowing down manganese ore production in Gabon. Local sources say the
French company will only produce less than 2.5-million mt of ore in 2009 vs. 3.25-million mt last year.
Comilog, Eramet’s manganese mining subsidiary, was being forced to slow investment by 30%, halt
output for up to six weeks during the year and lay off some 1,500 workers for three weeks.
"We are facing an exceptionally deep crisis (which) may well extend beyond 2009," Comilog head
Marcel Abeke was quoted as saying.
ThyssenKrupp responded last week to objections by a few US stainless producers, led by AK Steel, on
its request for a free trade zone (FTZ) for its new steel plants in Alabama. ThyssenKrupp pointed out
that the US steel industry is dependent on ferroalloy imports since there is not enough domestic
production to satisfy requirements. In fact, ThyssenKrupp anticipates importing 19 dutiable ferroalloys
and only one ferroalloy, moly, has more than enough domestic production to meet consumption. And, in
most cases, US production of the necessary ferroalloys is either minimal or nonexistent. For example,
ThyssenKrupp pointed out that there is virtually no chrome production in the US and that imports
accounted for 62% of US consumption, with the remaining 38% coming from recycled chromium.
Therefore, the regular use of, and need for foreign origin of many ferroalloys is commonly accepted in
the US industry.
As for moly, even though ThyssenKrupp sources most of its requirements from Chile for its overseas
plants, the company said that it anticipates the US being a primary source for its US mill. ThyssenKrupp
also said it is in negotiations with US ferroalloy suppliers and that a significant amount of its raw
materials for the US mills will be sourced domestically.
"ThyssenKrupp is committed to sourcing domestically, whenever possible, considering quality,
availability, reliability and pricing," the company said. "An estimated 73.9% of US value is anticipated for
stainless steel (44% from US materials) and 55% from carbon steel (34% from US materials.)"
The company also said that it doesn’t contemplate buying any FTZ imports subject to antidumping or
countervailing duty orders. "ThyssenKrupp does not anticipate admitting finished steel products into the
zone in foreign status, but doing so would be consistent with zone procedures," the company added.
Further, ThyssenKrupp pointed out that other US mills can also ask for a FTZ. "The foreign trade zones
program is neither intended nor administered in a way to grant exclusive privileges on a first come, first
serve basis," the company noted. "If the Foreign Trade Zones Board determines…that manufacturing
stainless and carbon steel under zones procedures is in the domestic public interest, the right to request
a similar grant of authority is open to other domestic producers."
Finally, ThyssenKrupp said its US operations will promote domestic steel production; provide a
significant positive economic impact to the US, the region and the state ($3.7-billion invested, 29,000
construction jobs, 2,500-2,700 permanent jobs and a $130-million annual payroll).
"ThyssenKrupp can and wants to be a US producer. The proposed ThyssenKrupp FTZ involves
displacement on imports with domestic production involving significant value added. Encouraging US
jobs and investment is a primary goal of the FTZ program. This weighs heavily in favor of FTZ approval
from ThyssenKrupp," the company concluded.
Tronox, the only US maker of electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD), filed for Chap. 11 bankruptcy. The
filing does not include Tronox’s operations outside of the US, which are based in Australia, Germany
and the Netherlands. The company has up to $125-million in new debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing
from its existing lending group led by Credit Suisse. The decision to file was made to address legacy
liabilities which it incurred when it was spun off in 2006 by Kerr-McGee, which has since been acquired
by Anadarko. The liabilities include environmental remediation and litigation costs that Tronox was
required to assume at the time of the spinoff. These liabilities are an obstacle to Tronox's financial
stability and success. Tronox’s EMD plant is in Henderson, NV.
OM Holdings (OMH) has apparently won the latest round in its effort to stop Consolidated
Minerals/Privat from taking it over. At a special shareholders meeting last week, OMH received approval
that would require a company buying more than 20% of OMH from acquiring more shares without
making an equal offer to all shareholders. Also, any entity holding more than 5% of OMH would have to
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 26
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
disclose it. While OMH is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, it is incorporated in Bermuda
and so does not have the takeover protection mechanisms extended to public companies incorporated
in Australia. The anti-takeover measures passed by an 85% margin. OMH said 15% of the votes cast at
the meeting were against the resolution, 99.8% were from Statford Sun, a company controlled by
Consolidated Minerals. However, most analysts don’t feel that Consolidated Minerals’ creeping takeover
attempt has been stymied.
Delta EMD's second-half 2008 sales volume and selling prices met expectations and provided further
trading profit improvement over the first half. Sales of Delta’s manganese metal, through its investment
in Manganese Metal Corp. were strong although volumes sold to steel makers softened late in the year.
The group's earlier impairment of its share of MMC's net assets was fully reversed during the second
half, and MMC's results will be reported as a business held for sale as the formal sales process initiated
during 2008 is expected to conclude during 2009.
Delta holds a 49% of MMC, with BHP Billiton the majority shareholder. Opportunities for realizing
attractive values for Delta EMD's Australian assets also remain promising. Reduced steel production
and battery sales are expected to reduce the group's manganese materials sales volumes this year.
MARKET ROUNDUP — Outlook still uncertain for most markets
Metal-Pages, 16/01/09
There is still uncertainty in most markets as the global economic downturn is affecting consumption of
metals across virtually all sectors.
Among the bearish news this week was diversified minor metals trader Wogen posting a loss for 2008,
having taken a £13.3 million write-down on its inventories of metal built up last year. Traders in the
minor metal market noted that despite falling prices, they have little choice but to carry stock to fulfill
orders when they come their way, so taking the hit on their value in recent months has been inevitable.
The outlook for aerospace metal markets has darkened again, as Airbus forecast lower deliveries and
orders this year. On a positive note it is planning to resume its A400M programme with an overhauled
operational structure and has committed to building its first mostly composite plane the A350XWB, by
announcing the start of construction on its assembly plant.
In a separate development the UK government appears to have given the green light to the construction
of the much opposed third runway at Heathrow Airport on conditions that capacity will be limited to
125,000 flights until at least 2020 and will increase only if airlines get on course to reduce pollution to
below 2005 levels. This further boosts the move towards replacing old fleets with new generation
aircraft, and the need for cleaner engines.
As most other sectors, the aviation industry is currently looking for rescue to China, whose economy is
still expected to grow by 7%.
The country's steel industry is currently supporting the global ferro-alloys markets, importing material in
some cases from India, the CIS and South Africa, and in some cases from the western markets where
stocks have built up and prices are cheaper than the Chinese domestic market. In Europe and North
America the picture is still grim. However, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel, after raw steel
output figures in the United States showed an increase of 22.6% last week.
Against all this background notably some noble alloy markets are gaining strength: tight supply has
been driving up ferro-tungsten rapidly in the past week, and ferro-titanium has also staged a recovery,
with the market heading above $ 3/kg from the $ 2s seen n December. Ferro-niobium was also this
week reported trading at around $ 40/kg in contrast to the still droopy vanadium market.
MANGANESE
European manganese flake prices have edged up again on increased Chinese exporter offers in the
past week, although domestic demand in the bloc has been persistently subdued amid an economic
slump that has affected all metals markets, dealers told Metal-Pages on Tuesday.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 27
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
European spot prices are around $ 2,700-2,800 a tonne basis in-warehouse Rotterdam, up $ 50, with
manganese lumps about $ 100 above that level. A couple of sales have been reported at $ 2,850 a
tonne, although that was for prompt, smaller parcels, dealers said.
Manganese prices in China, a major exporter to Europe, have increased in domestic spot business due
to tighter supplies since producers took remedial action to combat a fall in consumption in the steel
sector.
MANGANESE ALLOYS
The bulk alloy markets in the West are expected to be erratic in 2009 as consumers increasingly
replace long-term deals with spot purchases, dealers said.
Recent market volatility saw ferro-manganese, ferro-silicon and silico-manganese prices slide from
multi-year highs in line with demand from key consumers in the carbon and stainless steels sectors, as
well as China. The alloys are primarily used in construction steel.
The European silico-manganese market has dropped again in the past few weeks, with spot prices
ranging slightly above €1,000 a tonne this week as the steel sector has shown little interest in buying
amid the economic recession and tighter credit controls..
At the start of the week silico-manganese spot prices were around €1,000-1,100/tonne basis delivered.
―The drop in prices has been expected as ferro-alloys producers have responded with cuts in
production, but stocks are plentiful as steel makers have also cut their production,‖ a dealer said.
In the US, silico-manganese prices have dropped to 45-47 cents/lb, from 48-52 cents/lb.
High carbon ferro-manganese prices in Europe meanwhile are down to €1,100-1,200 a tonne basis
delivered works, from €1,550-1,750 a tonne basis delivered works.
Refined ferro-manganese alloys prices have also fallen, with medium carbon at €2,000-2,100 a tonne
basis delivered works, from €2,300-2,400 a tonne, while low carbon material is around €2,400-2,500, off
a couple of hundred.
―Steel makers are buying 50-100 tonne lots periodically from the spot market, and some producers have
offered material at only €1,050 for high carbon material,‖ one dealer said.
Some dealers have sold single 50-tonne lots at €1,100 a tonne delivered, although that was fairly
isolated, they said.
In longer term contract negotiations for first quarter settlements, dealers have agreed some prices at
around €1,250 a tonne basis delivered.
Refined ferro-manganese business has been even quieter, with some producers selling only a lot or two
since the Christmas holidays. Medium carbon spot business has been reported at some €1,900-
2,100/tonne, while quarterly settlements have been negotiated at around €2,000/tonne, dealers said.
In the US, medium carbon material was down five cents this week to $ 1.45-1.60/lb, while high carbon
ferro-manganese has dropped to $ 1,375-1,425/tonne basis ex-warehouse, from $ 1,600-1,700/tonne.
OHES & SCIENCE
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 28
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
EMM
Chinese electro manganese metal price recovered
Steel Guru, 29/01/09
It is reported that the market price of Chinese electrolytic manganese metal is still continuing a tendency
to rebound and, consequently, many of Chinese plants, which once suspended to produce this metal as
the production was not profitable, are now resuming their production of electrolytic manganese metal.
According to a market source, 10 to 20 plants are supposed to have returned to this production. This
movement is thought to prepare for purchases of electrolytic manganese metal by steel mills in China to
supplement their stocks of this metal.
Owing to a rise of prices for raw materials and spot purchases of Chinese electrolytic manganese metal
by consumers in domestic market and overseas countries, the price of this metal for export has
continued to rise and its general price level as of the end of last week has reached USD 2,750 to USD
2,800 per tonne FOB China, having risen by USD 700 per tonne as compared with the bottom one
prevailed in an early part of November.
However, since the production of electrolytic manganese metal in China has been resumed as
mentioned above, the quantity of this metal to be supplied by Chinese producers is on a trend to
increase and, therefore, a tightness of the supply as arisen from the second half of November is in the
direction to loosen. Nevertheless, Chinese producers have been still continuing a challenge to cover the
increased costs and some of them are offering electrolytic manganese metal at higher prices of USD
2,800 to USD 3,000 per tonne FOB China.
(Sourced from TEX Report Limited)
European manganese prices consolidate gains
Metal-Pages, 21/01/09
European manganese flake prices have consolidated higher in the past week, cementing a small gain
after increased Chinese exporter offers the week before, although domestic demand in Europe looks
set to be weak in the short term, dealers told Metal-Pages on Wednesday.
European spot prices are around $ 2,700-2,800 a tonne basis in-warehouse Rotterdam, with
manganese lumps about $ 100 above that level. Smaller parcels for prompt delivery have been settled
at about $ 2,850 a tonne.
About 90% of manganese is used as a hardener in carbon steel products, with the rest used as an alloy
in stainless steel and aluminium production.
―The market looks steady until after the Chinese New Year holiday next week,‖ one dealer said. ―There
is material available if you want it and although buying interest has picked up a little the spot market is
generally at a low level of activity.‖
China is essentially shutting down for next week for their New Year holidays, which typically prompts
some Chinese selling to book profits, although the manganese market in the country has stabilised after
an increase in domestic prices around the start of this month.
New offers of supply in China have met with little buying interest in China, where dealers reckon the
market will be little moved until February.
Many manganese producers, particularly the bigger firms with some working capital, have been
reluctant to sell as they build stocks ahead of an anticipated market rally, dealers said. They reckon
supply of manganese carbonate ores will tighten as harsh weather conditions have been disrupting
mining in southern Chinese areas, while mines will shut for the New Year.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 29
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
Austenitic Stainless Steel Electrode for High Temperature Welding
Chemical Online, 20/01/09
Select-Arc, Inc. has introduced a stainless steel, metal cored electrode designed for welding when
elevated temperatures are involved.
SelectAlloy 310G-C has a modified 310 chemistry with a nominal composition of 26% chromium, 21%
nickel and 5% manganese. The addition of the manganese in this gas-shielded, metal cored, stainless
steel electrode reduces the tendency for hot cracking of this highly austenitic alloy. SelectAlloy 310G-C
is well suited to provide a smooth, spray arc transfer with low spatter and little or no slag. This electrode
is ideal for making small butt, lap and fillet welds on thin material. It operates at faster travel speeds,
handles poor fit-up and offers higher deposition rates and more controlled penetration than the
equivalent solid wire.
SelectAlloy 310G-C is utilized to weld 310 stainless steel, as well as 410 and 430 stainless steels when
preheating or postweld heat treatments are not possible. This electrode, available in .045" and 1/16"
diameters, is used when elevated temperatures are involved such as with equipment for heat treating,
chemical and food processing.
Chinese electrolytic manganese market cools down
Metal-Pages, 16/01/09
The booming electrolytic manganese market has cooled down in China as the fast-moving price hikes
fail to find much acceptance from consumers, market participants said. ―Transaction prices were
actually much lower when offer prices were exceeding Rmb 15,000/tonne and volumes were far from
big,‖ said a trade source.
A survey of producers and traders on Friday pegged price ranges for manganese flake at Rmb 14,300-
14,500/tonne ($2,097-2,126 before 20% export tax) basis ex works and $ 2,700-2,800/tonne FOB,
similar to the previous levels.
―The market sentiment is turning around as increased offers have failed to find many takers,‖ a second
trader said. ―Moreover, there is flat demand from both domestic and overseas end-users. The
production level of 200 series stainless steels is at one of multi-year lows though some mills have
increased their output slightly.‖
In Europe, manganese demand has been persistently subdued amid an economic slump that has
affected all metals markets. European steel firms have been slashing production through to early 2009
in recent months as they struggle to cope with a fall in demand amid an economic recession and
tightening credit finance from banks and other financial lenders.
However, some traders said the market is expected to keep stable and might not see a price slump until
the approaching Lunar New Year holiday. ―Many producers, particularly those big ones who don’t have
big cash shortages, remain reluctant to sell as they are building up stocks and waiting for a new rally,‖
said the second trader. A third trader cited tightening supply of the main raw material, manganese
carbonate ores. ―The supply of manganese ores is going to tighten as harsh weather conditions are
disrupting the mining in some southern China regions. Meantime, the forthcoming holiday will lead to an
absence of many miners,‖ he said.
EMD
Panasonic likely to post loss, close plants-Nikkei
Reuters, 27/01/09
Panasonic Corp is likely to report a net loss of about 100 billion yen ($1.12 billion) in the year to March
31 on restructuring charges, weak demand for consumer electronics and the effects of the strong yen
on overseas earnings, the Nikkei financial daily reported.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 30
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
It would be the first net loss in six years for the company, formerly known as Matsushita Electric
Industrial Co Ltd.
Panasonic also plans to close three plants, including two of its three plants that make electronics parts
in Malaysia, the Nikkei said without citing sources. The third plant to be closed is in the Philippines, the
Nikkei said.
Panasonic had forecast a 10 percent rise in net profit to 310 billion yen at the start of the fiscal year on
April 1 after a record profit of 280 billion yen a year earlier.
It lowered its projection to a profit of 30 billion yen in November as the global economic downturn
accelerated.
Panasonic's operating profit is also likely to suffer a worse fall than the 35 percent drop to 340 billion
yen the company forecast in November, the Nikkei said.
This would reflect falling demand for semiconductors and electronics parts and worsening margins on
the flat-panel TVs that have driven earnings in recent years, it said.
One of the factories to be closed in Malaysia makes film capacitors used in mobile phones. The
operation, in Malacca, will be shuttered in March, the Nikkei said.
A plant in the state of Selangor, which makes switches for audiovisual equipment, will be closed in
September, it said.
The third plant to be closed is a Philippine facility that produces 12 million manganese dry-cell batteries
a year for the local market.
($=89 yen)
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 31
The IMnI does not accept any responsibility for information, views or opinions contained in the articles reprinted in Manganese Matters, which are solely those of the publications credited.
on overs eas earnings, the Nikkei financial daily reported.
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 30
The IMnI does not acc ept any responsibility for information, views or opini ons c ontained i n the articles reprinted i n Manganes e Matters, whic h are solel y thos e of the publications credited.
It would be the first net loss in six years for the company, formerly known as Matsushita Electric
Industrial Co Ltd.
Panasonic also plans to close three plants, including two of its three plants that make electronics parts
in Malaysia, the Nikkei said without citing sources. The third plant to be closed is in the Philippines, the
Nikkei said.
Panasonic had forecast a 10 percent rise in net profit to 310 billion yen at the start of the fiscal year on
April 1 after a record profit of 280 billion yen a year earlier.
It lowered its projection to a profit of 30 billion yen in November as the global economic downturn
accelerat ed.
Panasonic's operating profit is also likely to suffer a worse fall t han t he 35 percent drop to 340 billion
yen the company forecast in November, the Nikkei said.
This would reflect falling demand for semiconductors and electronics parts and worsening margins on
the flat-panel TVs that have driven earnings in recent years, it said.
One of the factories to be closed in Malaysia makes film capacitors used in mobile phones. The
operation, in Malacca, will be shuttered in March, the Nikkei said.
A plant in the state of S elangor, which makes switches for audiovisual equipment, will be closed in
September, it said.
The third plant to be closed is a P hilippine facility that produces 12 million manganese dry -cell batteries
a year for the local market.
($=89 yen)
Manganese Matters n° 2 (Issued January 29, 2009) 31
The IMnI does not acc ept any responsibility for information, views or opini ons c ontained i n the articles reprinted i n Manganes e Matters, whic h are solel y thos e of the publications credited.
Related docs
