EUROFER, steel companies and national steel federations throughout the European Union (EU)

EUROFER, founded in 1976, and located in Brussels, represents 100% of steel production in the EU.
Its members are steel companies and national steel federations throughout the European Union (EU).The major steel companies and national steel federations in Switzerland and Turkey are associate members.
EUROFER is not allowed to provide detailed information concerning the operational or commercial activities of its member companies. This is a direct consequence of its antitrust guidelines and its policy concerning the confidentiality of its member company data.The objectives of EUROFER are the co-operation amongst the national federations and companies in all matters that contribute to the development of the European steel industry, and the representation of the common interests of its members vis-à-vis third parties, notably the European institutions and other international organisations. Within this framework there is no role whatsoever for EUROFER in any commercial transaction.

EUROFER, the European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries
Steel is one of the most attractive, most robust and most sustainable materials in the world. Thousands of different types of steel facilitate and improve our daily life in innumerable applications. Steel sets trends in lifestyle: it is the material of design and innovation in many aspects of our life, as for example in vehicles, building constructions, medical devices or household equipment. But steel does much more than that. Steel is 100% recyclable and therefore contributes significantly to the long-term conservation of fundamental resources for future generations.

The European steel industry’s annual revenues total about 200 billion Euros, it directly employs 420 thousand people and produces about 200 million tonnes of steel per year. More than 500 steel production sites in 27 EU Member States provide direct and indirect employment and a living for millions of European citizens.
EUROFER, the European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries
Steel is one of the most attractive, most robust and most sustainable materials in the world. Thousands of different types of steel facilitate and improve our daily life in innumerable applications. Steel sets trends in lifestyle: it is the material of design and innovation in many aspects of our life, as for example in vehicles, building constructions, medical devices or household equipment. But steel does much more than that. Steel is 100% recyclable and therefore contributes significantly to the long-term conservation of fundamental resources for future generations.

For more information : www.eurofer.org

Iron ore, Magmatic magnetite ore, Hematite ore, production and consumption, Iron ore market

By Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, deep purple, to rusty red. The iron itself is usually found in the form of magnetite (Fe3O4), hematite (Fe2O3), goethite (FeO(OH)), limonite (FeO(OH).n(H2O)) or siderite (FeCO3). Hematite is also known as "natural ore", a name which refers to the early years of mining, when certain hematite ores containing up to 66% iron could be fed directly into iron-making blast furnaces. Iron ore is the raw material used to make pig iron, which is one of the main raw materials to make steel. 98% of the mined iron ore is used to make steel.
Indeed, it has been argued that iron ore is "more integral to the global economy than any other commodity, except perhaps oil”.
SourcesMetallic iron is virtually unknown on the surface of the Earth except as iron-nickel alloys from meteorites and very rare forms of deep mantle xenoliths. Although iron is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth's crust, comprising about 5%, the vast majority is bound in silicate or more rarely carbonate minerals. The thermodynamic barriers to separating pure iron from these minerals are formidable and energy intensive, therefore all sources of iron used by human industry exploit comparatively rarer iron oxide minerals, the primary form which is used being hematite.
Prior to the industrial revolution, most iron was obtained from widely available goethite or bog ore, for example during the American Revolution and the Napoleonic wars. Prehistoric societies used laterite as a source of iron ore. Historically, much of the iron ore utilized by industrialized societies has been mined from predominantly hematite deposits with grades in excess of 60% Fe. These deposits are commonly referred to as "direct shipping ores" or "natural ores". Increasing iron ore demand, coupled with the depletion of high-grade hematite ores in the United States, after World War II led to development of lower-grade iron ore sources, principally the utilization of taconite in North America. Lower-grade sources of iron ore generally require beneficiation. Magnetite is often utilized because it is magnetic, and hence easily separated from the gangue minerals and capable of producing a high-grade concentrate with very low levels of impurities. Due to the high density of hematite relative to associated silicate gangue, hematite beneficiation usually involves a combination of crushing, milling, gravity or heavy media separation, and silica froth flotation. One method relies on passing the finely crushed ore over a bath of solution containing bentonite or other agent which increases the density of the solution. When the density of the solution is properly calibrated, the hematite will sink and the silicate mineral fragments will float and can be removed.
Iron ore mining methods vary by the type of ore being mined. There are four main types of iron ore deposits worked currently, depending on the mineralogy and geology of the ore deposits. These are magnetite, titanomagnetite, massive hematite and pisolitic ironstone deposits.
Magmatic magnetite ore depositsOccasionally granite and ultrapotassic igneous rocks segregate magnetite crystals and form masses of magnetite suitable for economic concentration. A few iron ore deposits, notably in Chile, are formed from volcanic flows containing significant accumulations of magnetite phenocrysts. Chilean magnetite iron ore deposits within the Atacama Desert have also formed alluvial accumulations of magnetite in streams leading from these volcanic formations.
Some magnetite skarn and hydrothermal deposits have been worked in the past as high-grade iron ore deposits requiring little beneficiation. There are several granite-associated deposits of this nature in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Other sources of magnetite iron ore include metamorphic accumulations of massive magnetite ore such as at Savage River, Tasmania, formed by shearing of ophiolite ultramafics.
Another, minor, source of iron ores are magmatic accumulations in layered intrusions which contain a typically titanium-bearing magnetite often with vanadium. These ores form a niche market, with specialty smelters used to recover the iron, titanium and vanadium. These ores are beneficiated essentially similar to banded iron formation ores, but usually are more easily upgraded via crushing and screening. The typical titanomagnetite concentrate grades 57% Fe, 12% Ti and 0.5% V2O5.


Hematite ore
Hematite iron ore deposits are currently exploited on all continents, with the largest intensity in South America, Australia and Asia. Most large hematite iron ore deposits are sourced from altered banded iron formations and rarely igneous accumulations.
Hematite iron is typically rarer than magnetite bearing BIF or other rocks which form its main source or protolith rock, but it is considerably cheaper to process as it generally does not require beneficiation due to its higher iron content. However, Hematite ores are harder than magnetite ores and therefore require considerably more energy to crush and grind if benefication is required. Hematite ores can also contain significantly higher concentrations of penalty elements, typically being higher in phosphorus, water content (especially pisolite sedimentary accumulations) and aluminium (clays within pisolites). Export grade Hematite ores are generally in the 62–64% Fe range.
Production and consumption
Iron is the world's most commonly used metal - steel, of which iron ore is the key ingredient, represents almost 95% of all metal used per year.[2] It is used primarily in structural engineering applications and in maritime purposes, automobiles, and general industrial applications (machinery).
Iron-rich rocks are common worldwide, but ore-grade commercial mining operations are dominated by the countries listed in the table aside. The major constraint to economics for iron ore deposits is not necessarily the grade or size of the deposits, because it is not particularly hard to geologically prove enough tonnage of the rocks exist. The main constraint is the position of the iron ore relative to market, the cost of rail infrastructure to get it to market and the energy cost required to do so.
Mining iron ore is a high volume low margin business, as the value of iron is significantly lower than base metals. It is highly capital intensive, and requires significant investment in infrastructure such as rail in order to transport the ore from the mine to a freight ship. For these reasons, iron ore production is concentrated in the hands a few major players.
World production averages two billion metric tons of raw ore annually. The world's largest producer of iron ore is the Brazilian mining corporation Vale, followed by Anglo-Australian companies BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto Group. A further Australian supplier, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd has helped bring Australia's production to second in the world.
The seaborne trade in iron ore, that is, iron ore to be shipped to other countries, was 849m tonnes in 2004.[6] Australia and Brazil dominate the seaborne trade, with 72% of the market.[6] BHP, Rio and Vale control 66% of this market between them.
In Australia iron ore is won from three main sources: pisolite "channel iron deposit" ore derived by mechanical erosion of primary banded-iron formations and accumulated in alluvial channels such as at Pannawonica, Western Australia; and the dominant metasomatically-altered banded iron formation related ores such as at Newman, the Chichester Range, the Hamersley Range and Koolyanobbing, Western Australia. Other types of ore are coming to the fore recently, such as oxidised ferruginous hardcaps, for instance laterite iron ore deposits near Lake Argyle in Western Australia.
The total recoverable reserves of iron ore in India are about 9,602 million tones of hematite and 3,408 million tones of magnetite[citation needed]. Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Orissa, Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu are the principal Indian producers of iron ore.
World consumption of iron ore grows 10% per annum[citation needed] on average with the main consumers being China, Japan, Korea, the United States and the European Union.
China is currently the largest consumer of iron ore, which translates to be the world's largest steel producing country. It is also the largest importer, buying 52% of the seaborne trade in iron ore in 2004. China is followed by Japan and Korea, which consume a significant amount of raw iron ore and metallurgical coal. In 2006, China produced 588 million tons of iron ore, with an annual growth of 38%.


Iron ore market
Over the last 40 years, iron ore prices have been decided in closed-door negotiations between the small handful of miners and steelmakers which dominate both spot and contract markets. Traditionally, the first deal reached between these two groups sets a benchmark to be followed by the rest of the industry.
This benchmark system has however in recent years begun to break down, with participants along both demand and supply chains calling for a shift to short term pricing. Given that most other commodities already have a mature market-based pricing system, it is natural for iron ore to follow suit. Although exchange-cleared iron ore swap contracts have developed over the past few years, to-date no exchange has established a proper futures market for the largely seaborne $88 billion a year iron ore trade. To answer increasing market demands for more transparent pricing, the pan-Asian multi-product commodity and currency derivatives exchange for global trade Singapore Mercantile Exchange (SMX) is planning to launch soon an iron ore futures contract, subject to regulatory approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, based on the Metal Bulletin Iron Ore Index (MBIOI) which utilizes daily price data from a broad spectrum of industry participants and independent Chinese steel consultancy and data provider Shanghai Steelhome's widespread contact base of steel producers and iron ore traders across China.
This move follows a switch to index-based quarterly pricing by the world's three largest iron ore miners - Vale, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton - in early 2010, breaking a the 40 year tradition of benchmark annual pricing.

MoEF defers clearance to JSW's Rs 25k-cr Bellary unit expansion

The environment ministry is believed to have deferred clearances to JSW Steel’s Rs 25,000-crore capacity expansion proposal at Bellary plant and sought details of coal linkage and disaster management plans among other things.“After detailed deliberations, the committee (expert appraisal panel of Ministry of Environment and Forests) ... deferred the project,” sources said.
Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Steel is producing seven million tonnes per annum (mtpa) steel at Bellary now and has embarked on expansion to take the capacity to 10 mtpa, expected to go on stream by March next year.JSW Steel also plans to further increase its steel making capacity within the plant to 16 mtpa by 2013. The environment ministry’s clearance was sought for expanding capacity from 10 mtpa to 16 mtpa.Mecon, which has been roped in by JSW Steel as consultant for the proposed expansion, had made a detailed presentation on the project and outlined environmental protection measures to be taken at a recently-held meeting with the designated panel of the environment ministry, sources said.However, not satisfied with the information provided by the steel major, the panel has asked detailed housing plan for construction workers, exact source and trace element analysis of raw material, a copy of coal linkage document and CSR plan for five per cent of the project cost.The expert committee has also asked for an authenticated map showing the location of the project and Daroji Bear Sanctuary.

Courtsey news via Press Trust Of India / New Delhi December 31, 2010, 1:07 IST
Tags : environment ministry, MoEF, JSW Steel, sisaster management, Sajjan Jindal

Companies & Industry, commodities; JSW top bidder for Bellary Steel & Alloys

Close on the heels of bagging Ispat Industries, Sajjan Jindal-controlled JSW Steel has emerged the highest bidder for debt-laden Bellary Steel & Alloys.
There is, however, a twist: Sesa Goa, India’s largest producer and exporter of iron ore in the private sector, was told in the morning that it had emerged the only qualified bidder when the tender was opened.“By afternoon, we were informed there was another bid from JSW, which was higher,” Sesa Goa Managing Director P K Mukherjee said.While Sesa Goa’s bid was marginally higher than the Rs 205.63-crore reserve price at Rs 206 crore, JSW’s bid came in at Rs 210 crore. JSW did not comment on the development.Sesa Goa was then asked to participate in inter se bidding, which the company declined. A clause in the tender said inter se bidding would be held among those found eligible and the highest bidder would be declared successful.
“I have been trying to call IFCI, but there has been no response from their side,” Mukherjee said. Bellary was being sold by a consortium of lenders led by IFCI.Bellary Steel has a half-constructed plant, with a rated capacity of 0.5 million tonne. “The plant was never completed and ran into debt,” Mukherjee said. But its biggest asset is 700 acre freehold land.The sale was conducted under the Securitisation & Reconstruction of Financial Assets & Enforcement of Security Interest Act. The SARFAESI Act empowers banks or financial institutions to recover non-performing assets without court intervention.Companies were allowed to bid separately for the land, integrated steel plant and machinery. However, Sesa Goa and JSW submitted composite bids.JSW’s seven-million tonne steel plant is in the Bellary-Hospet region. With Ispat, JSW will become India’s largest steelmaker by March 2011, when its Vijayanagar plant commissions an additional three million tonne, taking its total capacity to 14.3 million tonne. The company has set itself an ambitious target of 34 million tonne by 2020.

Courtsey news via Business Standard by Surajeet Dasgupta / New Delhi January 1, 2011.
Tags : Sajjan Jindal, JSW Steel, Bellary Steel & Alloys, Sesa Goa, P K Mukherjee, SARFAESI Act

Anglo to invest $770m in Brazil iron ore port with Batista’s LLX

Anglo American Plc, the world’s fifth-largest base-metals producer by market value, agreed to invest as much as 1.3 billion reais ($770 million) in its iron- ore port project with billionaire Eike Batista’s LLX Logistica SA to export the mineral from Brazil.
Under a revised 25-year agreement, Anglo will pay $7.10 for each metric ton of iron ore shipped from the Porto Acu joint venture, LLX said in a regulatory filing yesterday. The accord will generate $190 million of annual revenue for LLX, according to the filing. London-based Anglo owns 49 percent of the port.
Anglo, suffering delays and cost overruns at its Minas Rio development in Brazil, is spending about $17 billion to expand production of copper, iron ore, nickel and other metals as demand from Asian nations grows. The Minas Rio iron-ore complex, its biggest project, includes a mine, a processing plant and a 326-mile (525-kilometer) pipeline that will transport the mineral to Porto Acu.
The company secured a key license from Brazil this month allowing it to progress with building Minas Rio after delays in getting permits and design changes increased costs. It said in July the cost of the development may rise by about a fifth to $4.6 billion because of the delays.
Anglo said Dec. 10 that it will start work on the project in March and deliver its first ore 27 to 30 months after that. It had initially planned to start mining this year.
Anglo rose 1.7 percent to 3,364 pence in London trading at 11 a.m. Before today, it climbed 22 percent this year, less than a 28 percent rally in the FTSE All-Share Mining Index.
News via Bloombert by Alex Emery in Lima at aemery1@bloomberg.net.
Tag : Business Exchange, Anglo American Plc. Eike Batista’s LLX Logistica SA, iron ore port

Iron ore stockpiles at major ports in China up slightly- 29 Dec 10

Till the close of last week Dec 24th, the imported iron ore stockpiles at China major ports posted at 72.86 million tonnes up 0.53 million tonnes from last week 72.33 million tonnes, out of which Brazilian ore stockpiles 18.28 million tonnes down 310,000 tonnes, Australian ore inventory 26.73 million tonnes up 60,000 tonnes and Indian ore stock 12 million tonnes up 120,000 from that of last week.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010 10:49
For more information http://www.irsteel.com/newsdetail-8447-en.html

India Minister: Final Decision on POSCO Project by January-End

Courtsey news via The wall street journal by Saurabh Chaturvedi and Satish Sarangarajan
NEW DELHI -- India's Ministry of Environment and Forests will make a final decision on Posco's proposed steel plant in eastern India by the end of January, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said Wednesday.
Posco, the world's third-largest steelmaker, signed a pact with the government of Orissa state in June 2005 to build the integrated steel plant. At more than $10 billion, it was billed as the biggest foreign direct investment in India.
But the project, like those of ArcelorMittal and Tata Steel Ltd., has been delayed due to tough forest laws and stiff opposition from local people unwilling to sell their land.
The Korean steel giant's planned investment includes a 12 million metric ton a year steel mill, a captive power plant and a port on about 4,000 acres of land in Orissa's Jagatsinghpur district. Much of that land is in forests.
"We will be able to take a final decision by [the] end of January on the future of POSCO's integrated project in Orissa. The project includes three components; mining, steel making and the development of a port. We are hopeful of a final decision on all three segments," Mr. Ramesh told reporters on the sidelines of a conference.
Earlier Wednesday, local newspaper DNA, citing unnamed sources, reported that the environment ministry had cleared the Posco project.
"These reports are speculative, premature and baseless," Mr. Ramesh said.
A cumbersome regulatory approval process and land acquisition issues have hindered big industrial and infrastructure projects in India. According to the steel ministry, some $80 billion of investment for steel projects is stuck in various stages of the regulatory approval cycle.
The domestic steel industry is concerned about meeting the expected 10% annual growth in demand over the next decade and India's steel imports are rising rapidly. The country needs new plants to help meet the booming demand, particularly from the automobile and construction sectors.
Several foreign steelmakers have tried to capitalize on India's growth prospects, including Japan's Kobe Steel Ltd. and JFE Steel Ltd.
Kobe Steel recently signed pacts with Steel Authority of India Ltd. and Essar Steel Ltd. to explore the possibility of a joint venture, while JFE Steel last year acquired a nearly 15% stake in JSW Steel Ltd.
POSCO has also signed a pact with SAIL to set up a joint venture in India.
Russian steelmaker OAO Severstal has signed an initial pact with iron ore miner NMDC Ltd. to set up an India joint venture in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.
In a report earlier Wednesday, local newspaper DNA, citing unnamed sources, said the ministry had cleared Posco's India project.
"These reports are speculative, premature and baseless," Mr. Ramesh told reporters on the sidelines of a press conference.
Posco signed a pact with the government of Orissa in east India some six years ago to build the integrated steel plant at an investment of about $12 billion.

Tag : Posco, steel plant, Government of Orissa, Ministry of Environment and Forests

Spot iron ore prices unmoved at $175-177 cfr

Courtsey news via Metal Bulletin Ltd.
Shanghai 30 December 2010 08:15
Spot prices for 63.5% Fe Indian fines remained at $175-177 per tonne cfr main Chinese ports on Thursday, December,2010 with most market participants still on the sidelines. Mainstream offers were still unchanged at $176-178 per tonnes cfr.
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Courtsey news via Metal Bulletin Ltd.
Spot iron ore prices stable at $175-177 cfr on MondayShanghai 27 December 2010 08:03
Spot prices for 63.5% Indian fines stood unchanged at $175-177 cfr Chinese ports on the first working day after Christmas. Offers from Indian miners for 63.5% fines have reached nearly $180 cfr, while offers from traders stand at around $178 cfr. “Now that iron ore prices have reached...
For more details
http://www.metalbulletin.com/Article/2741741/Iron/Spot-iron-ore-prices-stable-at-175-177-cfr-on-Monday.html
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Iron Ore-China demand slower, India traders hope for $180/T
Courtsey news via Thomson Reuters, Editing by Ramthan Hussain
Fri Dec 24, 2010 7:57am GMT
China mills curtail buying on uncertain price outlook * India traders hope for $180/T C&F for 63.5 grade next week * Swap market inactive on Christmas eve By Ruchira Singh and Ruby Lian NEW DELHI/SHANGHAI, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Asian iron ore prices were stable on Friday as Chinese mills curtailed purchases, though Indian traders saw more upside on expectations that China may need to stock up in the weeks before the Lunar New Year holidays in February. "There is no major bulk buying going on maybe because it is the end of the year," said Ranjan Chhibba, an iron ore and coal trader in New Delhi. "But because of low availability, prices may stay firm." Offers of Indian ore fines with 63.5 percent iron content held at $177-179 per tonne on Friday, CFR delivered to China, unchanged since the middle of this week, traders said. "It could go up to $180 a tonne next week, but whether it is sustainable or not, will have to be seen," said Dhruv Goel of trading firm SKTC in east India. Two major iron ore indexes stayed at seven-month highs, but moved in different directions on Thursday, reflecting mixed views on the near-term market trend.
The Metal Bulletin Iron Ore Index .IO62-CNO=MB rose 62 cents to $168.59 per tonne on Thursday, while the Steel Index 62 percent .IO62-CNI=SI slipped to $170.7 per tonne.
"Trading has been relatively weak late this week as buyers are waiting for a clearer price trend after the new year holiday," said an iron ore trader in eastern China.
TIGHT CAPITAL FOR STEEL MILLS
Many steel mills still aim to buy more stocks for holiday consumption, while the tightening capital crunch has curbed big purchases for materials already sitting at ports, traders in China said.
"Steel mills are facing a dilemma -- they don't have much money to buy spot materials, but they also don't want to take the risk of importing materials at high prices, despite lower capital pressure in buying via letter of credit," said an iron ore trader in Shanghai. The iron ore swap market stayed inactive as it has been for most of this week with may traders on holidays, and is seen reviving only in the first week of January. The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index , which tracks rates to ship dry commodities including iron ore, cement, grain, coal and fertiliser, fell to a five-month low of 1,795 points on Thursday as a slowdown in cargo business hit sentiment. [ID:nLDE6BM1J5]

Tata Steel Studying Rio Tinto Bid for Riversdale

India Business News December 24, 2010, 5:29 A.M. ET By Ashutosh Joshi and Saurabh Chaturvedi
MUMBAI -- Tata Steel Ltd. Friday said it is studying Rio Tinto Ltd.'s 3.9 billion Australian dollar ($3.91 billion) takeover offer for Riversdale Mining Ltd., in which the Indian company owns a 24% stake, a day after a consortium of Indian state-run companies appointed an advisor for a counter-bid.In a regulatory filing, Tata Steel said it would "evaluate the takeover bid in the context of other alternatives available to Tata Steel." It didn't say what the other alternatives were.Meanwhile, the chairman of Indian consortium International Coal Ventures Ltd. denied that the group had initiated talks with Tata Steel for a possible counter-bid for Sydney-based Riversdale."No. Any decision on bidding will be taken after the merchant banker's report," ICVL Chairman C.S. Verma said.ICVL -- a joint venture between Steel Authority of India Ltd., NTPC Ltd., NMDC Ltd., Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd. and Coal India -- Thursday named Citibank as its merchant banker to advise on a possible counter-bid for Riversdale.If the Indian consortium decides to go ahead, it will have to top Rio Tinto's offer price of 16 Australian dollar a share for the Mozambique-focused miner.Rio Tinto's cash offer was endorsed by Riversdale's board Thursday after it improved its bid from an original indicative offer of A$15 a share announced on Dec. 6.But analysts said the diversified mining giant may have to again sweeten its offer. Two major shareholders told Dow Jones Newswires on Dec. 6 that they would be unlikely to sell for less than A$20.Mr. Verma said ICVL has enough time to decide whether or not to make a counter-bid as a Riversdale shareholders' meeting on Rio Tinto's offer will only take place after 30 days.Citibank will submit its report within two weeks."Let us wait for the report of our merchant banker, and immediately after that we will call a board meeting of ICVL," Mr. Verma said.Separately, Indian Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh said Friday that ICVL should buy some coal mines before the end of this financial year in March. ICVL was specifically created (in May 2009) to acquire coal assets abroad, but it hasn't struck any deals yet."It has been some time since its incorporation. It is high time for them to show results," Mr. Singh told Dow Jones Newswires.However, he didn't name Riversdale as a potential target.Riversdale has 13 billion metric tons in coking and thermal coal reserves in its Benga and Zambeze projects in the southern African country of Mozambique. Acquiring the miner would help Indian companies secure much-needed coal supplies, as production in India falls well short of demand.Steel and mining analyst A.S Feroze said it would be difficult for Tata Steel to join hands with the consortium of five-state run companies.
"Theoretically I see difficulty in it. ICVL is a consortium and taking a decision after talking to the partners will not be a smooth process," Mr. Feroze said.But he added that it wouldn't be hard for either Tata Steel or ICVL to finance a counter-bid as bankers would be willing to provide funds "if it's a good deal."In a separate statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange, Tata Steel said it has got shareholders' approval to raise long-term finances, though it didn't provide a reason for the move.India's coal demand is forecast to rise to 713.24 million tons next financial year beginning April 1, when supply will likely be 629.91 million tons. To meet the shortfall and secure supplies, state-run and private companies are scouting for assets in places such as Africa, Indonesia and Australia.In a regulatory filing, Tata Steel said it would "evaluate the takeover bid in the context of other alternatives available to Tata Steel." It didn't say what the other alternatives were.Meanwhile, the chairman of Indian consortium International Coal Ventures Ltd. denied that the group had initiated talks with Tata Steel for a possible counter-bid for Sydney-based Riversdale."No.. any decision on bidding will be taken after the merchant bankers' report," ICVL Chairman C.S. Verma said.ICVL -- a joint venture between Steel Authority of India Ltd., NTPC Ltd., NMDC Ltd., Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd. and Coal India -- Thursday named Citibank as its merchant banker to advise on a possible counter-bid for Riversdale.If the Indian consortium decides to go ahead, it will have to top Rio Tinto's offer price of A$16 a share for the Mozambique-focused miner.Rio Tinto's cash offer was endorsed by Riversdale's board Thursday after it improved its bid from an original indicative offer of A$15 a share announced on Dec. 6.But analysts said the diversified mining giant may have to again sweeten its offer. Two major shareholders told Dow Jones Newswires on Dec. 6 that they would be unlikely to sell for less than $20 Australian dollar.Riversdale has 13 billion metric tons in coking and thermal coal reserves in its Benga and Zambeze projects in the southern African country of Mozambique. Acquiring the miner would help Indian companies secure much-needed coal supplies, as production in India falls well short of demand.Steel and mining analyst A.S Feroze said it would be difficult for Tata Steel to join hands with the consortium of five-state run companies."Theorotically I see difficulty in it. ICVL is a consortium and taking a decision after talking to the partners will not be a smooth process," Mr. Feroze said.But he added that it wouldn't be hard for either Tata Steel or ICVL to finance a counter-bid as bankers would be willing to provide funds "if it's a good deal."
In a separate statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange, Tata Steel said it has got shareholders' approval to raise long-term finances, though it didn't provide a reason for the move.
India's coal demand is forecast to rise to 713.24 million tons next financial year beginning April 1, when supply will likely be 629.91 million tons. To meet the shortfall and secure supplies, state-run and private companies are scouting for assets in places such as Africa, Indonesia and Australia.
Tag : Tata steel, Rio Tinto, Riversdale, Bid, ICVL

Commodity Minerals, Exports News: Iron ore prices set to rise as India's exports slow in Nov2010

Courtsey news by: G. Chandrashekhar Mumbai, Dec. 20, The Hindu Business Line
The decline in India's iron ore exports in recent months is generally attributed to the Karnataka Government's imposition of ban on movement outside the State and export from out of the ten ports.The embargo in July followed allegations of illegal mining. Slowdown in shipments from India has surely had an impact on world iron ore spot market prices which have firmed.Karnataka ports shipped out about 15.2 million tonnes of iron ore in 2008, which declined to 12.2 mt the following year. Tamil Nadu ports also handle some material from Karnataka and the export shipments totalled some 8 mt in 2009.From the time the ban was imposed, iron ore shipments from the two States have all but dried up. Extended South-West monsoon has also to some extent affected shipment volumes.However, despite ban imposed by Karnataka and slowdown due to seasonal factors, overall seaborne supply from India is down only 9 per cent in the first ten months of the year, although exports in the third quarter fell 37 per cent year-on-year and are 31 per cent down year-on-year in October-November, according to the latest Macquarie Research report.Impact on volumePointing out other factors that have impacted export volume, the report said clearances are getting considerably slow because of rigorous and complex documentation system stipulated by many States to ensure traceability of ore and to ensure taxes have been paid. Until exporters are able to meet the rigours of the documentation system or find a way to work around it, export volumes are unlikely to improve dramatically in the next few months. However, the good news is that some ore which was previously exported is now being pelletised and consumed within the country as steel demand continues to grow rapidly.According to Macquarie Research, relatively high steel prices (compared with international levels) are allowing the Indian steel mills to pay more for material thus, making export arbitrage negative.

Domestic demand for steel is widely expected to expand in the coming years given the robust economic growth and booming activity in the construction sector covering infrastructure and housing in the main. In other words, iron ore is likely to be increasingly utilised within the country, while availability for export is likely to shrink progressively.What to expect in 2011? Volume-wise Indian exports may rise in the coming months with shipments from Goa leading the way. However, spot market availability will still continue to remain tight as a result of which smaller Chinese mills which are expected to ramp up production in 2011 will have to compete aggressively for lesser supply, Macquarie remarked.Incidentally, any gain in Indian seaborne volumes may be offset by a fall in Brazilian exports due to rainy season during the first quarter. For past eight years, the first quarter shipments had fallen on quarter-on-quarter basis and this year could be no exception. Already, January cargoes are said to be pushed back as early rains have hampered ore availability.All these developments point to tightening of the ore market and further firming spot prices. There is a strong chance of a price spike towards $200 a tonne early next year as ex-China purchases come back into the market to secure material ahead of seasonally strong Q2 production in the northern hemisphere, Macquarie pointed out.
For more details visit : http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/12/21/stories/2010122152701600.htm
Tag : India iron ore exports, Karnataka Government, iron ore spot market prices

Iron ore price negotiations - Chinese steelmakers seek new model on changing market

It is reported that China leading steel mills gradually accept the fact that traditional iron ore benchmark system no longer exists. They are seeking for a more reasonable mechanism pegged to steel price while keeping a close eye on a possible turning point of iron ore supply demand relationships.China appetite for iron ore is cooling down. Mr Luo Tiejun vice director of MIIT raw material section said on newly held Mysteel annual conference that China steel output and demand growth would be eased. Data also show that China crude output growth in the first ten month is far below that of Europe, Japan and Korea.The steel market turns sluggish with limited scope to go either up or down and denting demands for iron ore.Mr Gao Bo Mysteel senior researcher said “China iron ore imports hit 503 million tonnes in the first ten months this year down 8% from corresponding period last year. We expect an annual import of around 600 million tonnes, a bit lower than last year, indicating it will be the first time for China iron ore imports to fall since 2007.”Mr Xu Lejiang Baosteel Group Chairman reiterated that interim supply demand imbalance and the Big Three’s monopoly caused global iron ore to rocket for the past years.Mr Wu Dongying head of Baosteel Economics & Management Institute said “With the slowdown of China steel industry, the turning point of iron ore supply demand relationship is sure to approach. We can expect an oversupply in global iron ore market.”Mr Gao Bo said Chinese steelmakers also work out countermeasures against high iron ore risks. They increase the use ratio of domestic iron ores to wean off dependency on imports. They diversify import sources, including South Africa, Ukraine, Indonesia, Chile, etc. They also put weight on foreign mining interests by overseas investment.As for the iron ore pricing system, Mr Xu Lejiang expressed earlier that current quarterly mechanism is acceptable yet it needs to be further improved. CISA also claimed that it is necessary to study a new pricing model oriented to steel prices.This idea is echoed by related government officials. Mr Luo Tiejie expressed that although current quarterly model reduces market risks by dampening speculation, the adopted index is so easy to be manipulated that it has affected the healthy development of Chinese industry. Only when iron ore and steel form a reasonable price relation can a stable industry chain develop.(Sourced from MySteel.net Thursday, 23 Dec 2010)
Tag : Real time access to China steel news, Iron ore price negotiations, Chinese

Orissa submits response on Mines ministry's guidelines on JVs, MoUs

Courtsey news via Business Standard Reporter / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar December 18, 2010, 0:10 IST
Pitches for recommending mineral concession cases only on merit.The Orissa government has submitted its response to the Union ministry of mines on the draft guidelines on joint ventures (JVs) and MoUs (Memorandum of Understanding) issued in September this year by the ministry."In our response, we have stated that in non-notified mining lease areas, the mineral concession cases should be recommended only on merit rather than on 'first in time' basis. We have broadly agreed with the other points stated by the ministry in its draft guidelines on JVs/MoUs”, a top official source told Business Standard.On signing of MoUs, the official said, "There has been no indiscriminate signing of MoUs by the state government. While recommending mineral concession case for an MoU signed company, we have ensured that the company does value addition within the state. Besides, the interests of the state in general and the people to be displaced in particular are factored in”, the source added.Apart from Orissa, Goa is the only other state to have sent its response to the ministry's guidelines on JVs/MoUs.In its draft guidelines on JVs/MoUs, the Union ministry of mines had stated that the signing of a large number of MoUs indiscriminately and without considering what the other party is bringing to the table, is not compatible with the use of the MoU as ‘special reasons’ for the purpose of Section 11 (5) of the MMDR Act.An MoU for exploitation of a mineral resource at a specific location (i.e. specific lease area) in anticipation of a concession or a reservation will be deemed to be incompatible with principles of fair play and equity because it will give that MoU applicant an unfair advantage in relation to other MoU applicants who apply for the same area.The ministry was of the view that it would contradict the policy of ‘first in time’ for non-notified areas or ‘most meritorious’ for notified areas, as the case may be, the Ministry of Mines had stated categorically in its guidelines.In case MoU/JV is treated as special reasons, it is necessary to make its provisions enforceable, and as such the state government must send all details of the MoU/JV along with a proposal to make it relating to the MoUs/JVs in the context of their application in both reservation and concession cases.It may be noted that while the above guidelines elaborate the process and procedures, they do not specify the policy and content of the MoUs since they have to be state specific. In order to enable this to be done, it will be necessary for the states to issue a comprehensive circular and notify it, specifying the policy and content, and including therein the details of these guidelines in so far as procedures and consequences are concerned, subject to any variation that the state government may consider desirable."The state governments will also need to enter into supplementary MoUs with existing MoU companies to enable the conditionalities to be fulfilled, and while doing so may ensure that the process of entering into supplementary MoUs filters out routine MoUs that may have been entered into earlier. The list of all qualifying MoUs (including supplementary MoUs) may then be put up by the state government on its website", the ministry had stated in its guidelines.
For more details visit
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/orissa-submits-responsemines-ministrys-guidelinesjvs-mous/418717/
Tag : Orissa government, Union ministry of mines, MoU, MMDR Act

Kaolin / China Clay

Kaolin (Washed China clay)
Kaolinite is a clay mineral. It is a layered silicate mineral, with one tetrahedral sheet linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral sheet of alumina octahedra. Rocks that are rich in kaolinite are known as china clay, white clay, or kaolin.
Photograph : China clay mines in Chittorgarh Rajasthan

Uses of Kaolin( Washed China clay)
Kaolin is used in ceramics, medicine, coated paper, as a food additive, in toothpaste, as a light diffusing material in white incandescent light bulbs, and in cosmetics. It is generally the main component in porcelain.
It is also used in paint to extend titanium dioxide (TiO2) and modify gloss levels; in rubber for semi-reinforcing properties; and in adhesives to modify rheology.
Kaolin was also used in the production of common pipes for centuries in Europe and Asia.
The largest use is in the production of paper, including ensuring the gloss on some grades of paper. Commercial grades of kaolin are supplied and transported as dry powder, semi-dry noodle or as liquid slurry.
Kaolinite can contain very small traces of uranium and thorium, and is therefore useful in radiological dating. While a single magazine made using kaolin does not contain enough radioactive material to be detected by a security-oriented monitor, this does result in truckloads of high end glossy paper occasionally tripping an overly-sensitive radiation monitor.
Kaolinite has also seen some use in organic farming, as a spray applied to crops to deter insect damage, and in the case of apples, to prevent sun scald.

China clay deposits in India
In India, china clay deposits are found mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat state. In Rajasthan pure white brighness china clay found in Chittorgarh district. In Gujarat, Bhuj, Kheda are deposits area.
China clay consumption market:
Washed china clay, kaolin consumption market is Gujarat. Morbi, Wankaner, Dhuva, and Thangadh, is famous ceramics zone in India.

Iron Oxide

Iron Oxide
Identifications
Formula : Fe2O3
Formula : FeO
Elements : Iron, Oxygen
CAS Number : 1309-37-1
CAS Number : 1332-37-2
CCOHS Record Number : 344
RTECS Number : NO7400000
RTECS Number : NO7525000 (fume)
Synonyms/Related:
Alpha-ferric oxide
Alpha-iron oxide
Anhydrous iron oxide
Anhydrous oxide of iron
Bauxite residue
Black oxide of iron
Blended red oxides of iron
Caput mortuum light
CI 77489
Colliron
Colloidal ferric oxide
Diiron trioxide
Eisenoxyd
English iron oxide red
Ethiops iron
FEO
Ferric Oxide
Ferric oxide hydrate
Ferrosoferric oxide
Ferrous ferrite
Ferrous oxide
Ferrox
Gamma-ferric oxide
Hydrated ferric oxide
Hydrous ferric oxide
Iron ferrite
Iron monooxide
Iron monoxide
Iron Oxide
Iron oxide (Fe203) , hydrate
Iron oxide (Fe2O3) , hydrate
Iron oxide (FeO)
Iron oxide red
Iron oxide, dust and fume
Iron oxide, spent
Iron oxides
Iron sesquioxide
Iron sponge, spent obtained from coal gas purification
Iron trioxide
Iron(2) oxide
Iron(II) oxide
Iron(II,III) oxide
Iron(III) oxide
Iron(III) oxide, aerosol
Iron(III) oxide
Natural iron oxides
Natural wuestite
Red iron oxide
Red oxide
Rouge
Specular iron
Triiron tetraoxide
Triiron tetroxide

Common Names:

English : red oxide

French : oxyde rouge

German : Oxid rot

Italian : rosso ossido

Portuguese : vermelho óxido

Spanish : rojo óxido

Alternate Names:

English: English red, Indian red, light red, red iron oxide, Venetian red

French: rouge Indien

Spanish: rojo Indio
Mars red is the name given to the artificial substitute of natural red iron oxide.

Origin and History

Natural red iron oxide is based on the mineral ore hematite. The word hematite comes from the Greek word hema, meaning blood and was given the name "bloodstone" in ancient Greece (Theofrastus, c. 325 B.C.), implying that the mineral is blood red in color. Hematite is an important ore of iron and its blood red color in the powdered form lends itself well as a pigment. Hematite is among the oldest pigments known to humankind and has been used by every major civilization.SourceIn nature hematite rarely occurs as crystals but usually as nodules or earthen masses. The color of the crystalline form varies from steel-gray to black, while crypto-crystalline hematite is dull red to bright red. This common mineral is found in deposits of the most diverse types. There are several varieties of hematite, two of which are suitable for use as pigments: oolitic hematite, which is a friable earth composed of small rounded grains of dark red color that are lustrous and greasy to the touch; and hematite rose, a fine-crystalline and crypto-crystalline form of hematite of red color, which are usually encountered in friable earthen masses or reniform aggregates of bladed crystals in a circular arrangement giving the appearance of a rose. Red iron oxides (hematite) are found around the world and have been used as pigments since prehistory.Permanence and

Properties
Incompatiblities:
calcium hypochlorite
carbon monoxide
hydrogen peroxide
Health & Regulatory Guidelines
EPA Regulations:
Marine Polutant: Yes
NIOSH Guidelines:
TWA: 5 mg/m³
IDLH: 2500 mg/m³
OSHA Regulations:
TWA: 10 mg/m³
TWA Vacated: 10 mg/m³

49 CFR 172.101 - Hazardous Materials Table

Hazardous materials description and proper shipping names :Iron oxide, spent, or Iron sponge, spent obtained from coal gas purification.

Kenneth Barbalace. Chemical Database - Iron oxide. EnvironmentalChemistry.com.

1995 - 2007. Accessed on-line: 6/19/2007

http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/chemicals/cn/Iron oxide.html

FAQs on Iron Oxide

What is the difference between Natural and Synthetic Iron Oxides ?

Three different iron oxide minerals normally are the basis for all Iron Oxide Pigments.These minerals are:Goethite (Yellow Iron Oxide) Hematite (Red Iron Oxide) Magnetite (Black Iron Oxide) These minerals can be produced naturally by geologic activities or can be synthetically produced in chemical reactions.

The color shade of the iron oxide is determined by the size of the individual mineral crystal.
Reds - Small Particle/Yellow Cast - Large Particle/Blue Cast Yellows - Small Particle/Green Cast - Large Particle/Red Cast Blacks - Small Particle/Brown Cast - Large Particle/Blue Cast
While the iron oxide mineral in both Naturals and Synthetics is similar, Natural Iron Oxides contain contaminates which often reduce their tinting strength in comparison to their Synthetic counterparts.

These contaminants are of two types:

(1) Those with coloring properties and those that act as an extender. The coloring contaminants are most often Manganite, MnO, which gives the Umbers their dark colored masstones.

(2) The non-coloring contaminants are most often natural extenders used in industry as industrial fillers, including clays, talc, and calcium carbonates.

How does particle size affect a pigment’s dispersibility ?
The color of a given pigment is determined by its particle size and shape. However, pigments are usually found as clusters of particles rather than individuals. These pigment clusters influence the tinting strength and grind that a given pigment can achieve.

The particles in the clusters are held together by many different mechanisms. The most common of these is the soluble material that cemented pigment particles together in the drying process. Another mechanism is the presence of electrical charges between individual particles. As pigment particles become smaller in size, decreasing in surface area, the strength of the electrical charge increases, making the pigment more difficult to disperse.

Pigment manufacturers can vary the dispersibility of a pigment by different grinding processes

which break down these pigment clusters into smaller clusters and particles.
The final customer will also break down these various pigment clusters in their processing. The degree of de-agglomeration depends on the energy of their dispersion process.
The actual grind of a product depends not only on the pigment but on the vehicle system in which it is being dispersed and the grinding technique used to disperse the pigment in the vehicle.

What are the heat stability properties of Pigments?
Most of the pigments that manufacturer markets are heat stable in most applications, with the exception of two important types of material. These include any pigments based on Yellow or Black Iron Oxides. Yellow Iron Oxides, FeO-OH, will begin to change into Red Iron Oxides at temperatures above 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Black Iron Oxides, Fe304, will begin to change into Red Iron Oxides at temperatures above 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Groups of pigments containing these materials include:
Ochre Raw Sienna Synthetic Yellow Iron Oxide Synthetic Black Iron Oxide Raw Umber Many Brown Blends of Iron Oxides

The Iron Oxide Industry has addressed the problems of heat stability by developing heat stable yellows and blacks. These are not pure iron oxides, but rather combinations of yellow or black iron oxides processed together with other materials. These heat stable yellows are Zinc Ferrites; the blacks are Iron Manganese Oxides.

Can One manufacturer’s pigments be combined with other pigments?
Yes, any of manufacturer’s pigments can be combined with other pigments; this is how they are normally used. Most often the pigment is combined with the white pigment Titanium Dioxide to produce a tint shade.

This process is often used when a gray color is desired. Often color formulators will make a gray by combining a carbon black with a TiO2 white and shading to the tone of gray desired. A more effective gray can be achieved by matching the undertone of the dark pigments available with the desired end shade. This process requires a lot less expensive shading. Many of the greenish grays that we associate with office equipment, like computers, are achieved this way by mixing raw umber with TiO2 white.

Raw Umbers are also utilized as toning pigments because of their neutral shade. This enables a formulator to darken a color without affecting the chromaticity of the brighter color. This is often useful when formulating pastel shades using bright organic pigments.