Slowing EU steel demand, global overcapacity and weaker worldwide demand could become a major threat to European steel market stability. The growth in apparent steel consumption in the EU will slow to only 0.5% in 2019, followed by a 1.2% rise in 2020, European steel association Eurofer said on Thursday January 31. Europe’s apparent steel …

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China’s mineral supply squeeze continues to challenge refractory producers. A range of factors arising in 2017 and spilling into 2018 significantly compounded the shortage of key refractory (and other) mineral exports from China vital to the world’s refractory manufacturing sector.    

Poursuivant sa politique de cession d’activités représentant un chiffre d’affaires global d’au moins 3 Mds € avant fin 2019, le géant des matériaux a annoncé être entré « en négociations exclusives » avec le fonds d’investissement américain OpenGate Capital. Leader mondial des grains et poudres de carbure de silicium – élément qui entre dans la …

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Strict environmental regulation on magnesite and magnesia production in China has resulted in strong demand for imported products. Cameron Perks, Fastmarkets IM correspondent, looks at how Sibelco’s Australian operations are currently benefiting from this.

The refractory maker reports higher end-user demand outweighing raw material volatility. Refractory maker RHI Magnesita reported a sharp rise in revenues, thanks to increased sales volumes and prices, even as its raw material costs rose. RHI Magnesita reported a pre-tax profit of €246 million in 2018, compared with a €5.9 million loss in 2017, with …

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