Industrial Minerals

Features

• TiO2’s time to transform

  As a severe demand slump takes hold and cuts ensue, the titanium dioxide industry is being forced into a fundamental location shift towards the East. With many plants and some producers sinking, and feedstock supply concerning those that survive, 2009 is shaping to be a pivotal year for the pigment sector Read More

• China’s bauxite blockade

  Refractories market looks to alternative minerals as China further squeezes bauxite exports – but new bauxite sources are emerging Read More

• Sunny days for solar power

  One ray of sunshine in the current economic climate is the photovoltaic cell (PV) market, which is growing year on year. Certain industrial minerals used in specific PV applications, such as silicon carbide and fused silica, are already seeing growth in demand. Alison Russell reviews the state of the industry and its future prospects Read More

• Kaolin: Amazon to Antwerp

  Brazil, one of the word’s major kaolin producers, exports about 90% of its production, mainly used in the paper industry. IM examined the supply chain of Brazil’s two main producers, Vale and Imerys by Alexandra Feytis, Assistant Editor Read More

Supply Developments

• China’s export policy challenged

  EU & US take formal action over Chinese export restrictions, potentially leading to a WTO hearing, while China halts H2 bauxite export quota tender by Mike O’Driscoll, Editor, & Alison Tran, Americas Correspondent Read More

• Canada Fluorspar raises funds

  Financial boost sought for St Lawrence project aiming at 2011 start-up, while market prices decline by Alison Tran, Americas Correspondent Read More

• Australia’s kaolin rush

  Asian kaolin markets spur exploration and development of Australian kaolin deposits. With several contenders in the pipeline, IM examines who might be ahead of the pack by Mike O’Driscoll, Editor Read More

• Oil-Dri targets agrimarkets with new bentonite plant

  Oil-Dri Corp. of America has opened a new plant at its Ripley, Missouri facility to produce bentonite granules for the agricultural market Read More

• Canadian Wollastonite welcomes RTV challenge

  Ontario based developer, Canadian Wollastonite, has welcomed the challenge from a wollastonite focused RT Vanderbilt while affirming the “clean-bill of health” of its product in that it is free of asbestos Read More

• Doral’s zirconia chemicals units find new owner

  Australia’s Mintech Chemical Industries Pty Ltd has become the new owner of Doral Specialty Chemicals Pty Ltd (DSC) which operated a zirconium chemical facility until its idling in June 2008 Read More

• Prince buys Castle Colours

  US pigment specialist buys UK manganese dioxide, barium carbonate, & iron oxide supplier by Mike O’Driscoll, Editor Read More

• Galaxy leads lithium surge

  Asian and South America lithium supply activity continues unabated as Galaxy secures Shanghai plant input materials by Simon Moores, Senior Asst Editor Read More

• Latin American potash promise

  New potash acquisitions in Brazil and Peru could end Latin America’s dependence on North American and Russian fertiliser imports Alexandra Feytis, Assistant Editor & Jessica Roberts, Assistant Editor Read More

• Rio cancels borates, sells vermiculite, shuns Chinalco

  Rio Tinto took its borates assets off the block owing to bidders not matching the valuation, completed the sale of its Ugandan vermiculite operation, while shifting its focus by shunning a partnership Chinalco for a deal with long-term suitor BHP Billiton Plc Read More

• GWMG rejects Molycorp RE “direction”

  A proposed deal involving US rare earth (RE) developer Molycorp Minerals LLC gaining a controlling stake in Canada-based Great Western Minerals Group Ltd (GWMG) has been terminated after both parties failed to agree terms Read More

• EU targets “critical raw materials” list

  At the Minerals Resources for Europe conference, 28-29 April 2009 in Prague, identifying critical raw materials in Europe was highlighted as “a priority action” as the continent seeks to secure key industrial minerals within its control Read More

• Chlor-Alkali eyes 50% of Botash

  South African salt and chemicals company, Chlor-Alkali Holdings (Pty) Ltd is looking to become a joint venture partner with the Botswana government in Botswana Ash Ltd (Botash) Read More

Comment

• Comment: Thinking strategic about minerals

  Securing industrial minerals supply is increasingly on national goverments' agendas Read More

Market Monitor

• Bentonite’s nuclear disposal role

  Sweden plans world’s first permanent nuclear waste repository, utilising bentonite as liner and backfill Read More

Strandlines

• Feed shortage looms as BHP quits Africa

  Corridor Sands, Mozambique ilmenite exit raises serious questions over future feedstock supply Read More

• SE Aisa boost as Vietnam lifts TiO2 ore export ban

  Titanium minerals miners boosted by year and a half export reprieve but tax remains at 20% Read More

• Tronox/Kerr-McGee TiO2 case moves up a gear

  Pressure mounts on Kerr-McGee/Anadarko as bankrupt TiO2 producer receives US government backing Read More

Diary Dates

• Diary Dates: July 2009 onwards

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Making the Grade

• TiO2 extender contender

  Aimed at cost saving, 20 Microns’ barytes opacifier and alumino-silicate extender grades can partially replace TiO2 in paints and coatings by 15-25% Read More

Processing

• Sorting silicon carbide micro grits

  Demand for specific micro grits in high-end applications, such as silicon wafer cutting, has forced silicon carbide producers to focus more than ever on process routes. Here IM examines the operations of US SiC producer Washington Mills Read More

People & Places

• People and places July 2009

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Refractories Hotline

• Chinese refractory exports rise

  Refractory exports up almost 38% in 2008, while refractory raw material exports drop, but their value rockets Read More

Trading Faces

• Refmin China Co. Ltd

  Refmin is a Chinese refractory raw material processor and exporter. IM talked to Jack Gao, general manager, about the challenges of the present market Read More