Steel raw materials
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Argus’ comprehensive coverage of the global ferrous markets provide independent price assessments, news and market analysis for iron ore, coking coal, ferrous scrap, pig iron and steel.
Our global team of experts in China, Singapore, the UK and US deliver over 300 domestic and seaborne price assessments along with detailed market commentary on a daily basis to ensure our clients have complete mine to mill price coverage.
The ferrous portfolio includes established Argus price indices for 62pc and 65pc iron ore fines, Turkish ferrous scrap imports, and our fob Australia and cfr China premium hard coking coal indices.
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Australia’s Lynas cuts Jan-Mar rare earth oxide output
Australia’s Lynas cuts Jan-Mar rare earth oxide output
Sydney, 28 April (Argus) — Australian mineral producer Lynas Rare Earths reduced its rare earth oxide output by 46pc on the year in January-March, because of maintenance and improvement work across multiple plants. Lynas left its total oxide production target for the fiscal year ending 30 June unchanged at 10,500t in its January-March quarterly report on 28 April. The company's improvements should enable it to increase production over April-June, following two quarters of declining output. Lynas produced 1,911t of rare earth oxides, including 1,509t of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide, in January-March. The company cut its NdPr oxide production by 12pc on the year over that period, prioritising NdPr oxide over other rare earth oxides ( see table) . NdPr oxide accounted for 79pc of the company's total oxide output in January-March, down from 49pc a year earlier. But Lynas' NdPr oxide share of production may drop in April-June. The company built dysprosium and terbium processing circuits in Malaysia last quarter, and expects to start refining the minerals in May and June, respectively. Lynas' expansion into dysprosium and terbium production comes as Chinese manufacturers — the largest exporters of dysprosium and terbium — weigh the impact of recent rare earth export controls, with some firms limiting offers . Lynas produces oxides in Malaysia using rare earths mined and initially processed in Western Australia (WA). The company spent the January-March quarter doing kiln maintenance work in Malaysia and improving its WA processing methods. Its Malaysian work finished during the quarter and its WA improvements are ongoing, the company said on 28 April. Lynas chemically treated rare earth carbonates from its WA plant before converting them to oxides in October-December, because of sulphate impurities, slowing production over the quarter. Its WA process changes are meant to prevent that from happening again. Lynas continued work on a Texas rare earth plant in January-March. The company is in talks with the US government over funding support for the project, the company said on 28 April. Recent US tariffs and water treatment issues could increase its Texas project costs, it added. The first Trump administration backed Lynas' US project in 2019, invoking the Defence Production Act to fund marketing, engineering, and design work. Argus ' praseodymium-neodymium oxide min 99pc fob China price has been quite volatile over the past three months. The price was last assessed at $56,000/t on 25 April, down from $62,250/t on 24 February and $57,150/t on 27 January. By Avinash Govind Lynas Oxide Production Jan-Mar '25 Jan-Mar '24 Oct-Dec '24 Jul-Mar '25 Jul-Mar '24 y-o-y Change (%) YTD Change (%) Rare earth oxide (total) | t 1,911 3,545 2,617 7,250 8,720 -46 -17 NdPr oxide | t 1,509 1,724 1,292 4,478 4,151 -12 7.9 NdPr oxide share | % 79 49 49 62 48 62 30 Lynas Rare Earths Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil's Usiminas steel price outlook murky
Brazil's Usiminas steel price outlook murky
Sao Paulo, 24 April (Argus) — Brazilian steel producer Usiminas' outlook for prices was mixed as steel output rose in the latest quarter. Usiminas commercial vice-president Miguel Homes said that pressure from imports and the Brazilian real's recent appreciation to the US dollar may force the producer to adjust spot prices in the future. At the same time, the company expects prices to remain flat in the coming quarter, according to its quarterly earnings release. Usiminas confirmed a 3pc price increase for automotive manufacturer contracts in April, which could signal an opportunity for a price reduction in light of the real's appreciation. The real has appreciated by 12.5pc to the US dollar year-to-date, slashing feedstock costs for Usiminas but also pressuring its domestic price levels. Brazilian mills have been unable to raise prices because of strong import flows, which increased 30pc in the first quarter, reaching 1.7mn metric tonnes (t). Usiminas sales rose to 1mn t in the first quarter, up by 9pc from the same period a year earlier. The company expects its sales volumes to be stable in the coming months. It also boosted crude steel output to 773,000t in the first quarter, 10pc above a year prior. Rolled-steel production remained flat at 1mn t. The company exported over 90,000t of steel in the first quarter. Argentina's automotive and oil and gas pipeline industries accounted for 81pc of Usiminas'steel exports , Usiminas said. Iron ore production reached 2.1mn t in the first quarter, up by 12pc from a year earlier. The company sold 2.2mn t of iron ore, marking 13pc growth from a year before. Exports accounted for 75pc of first quarter sales and profits in the period soared by over ninefold to R337mn ($65mn). By Isabel Filgueiras Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Freeport expects tariffs to increase costs 5pc
Freeport expects tariffs to increase costs 5pc
Houston, 24 April (Argus) — US-based copper producer Freeport-McMoRan expects tariffs to increase the costs of goods needed for operations by 5pc, as suppliers will likely pass on tariff-related costs. The 145pc tariffs imposed by the US on China on 10 April will likely have the largest influence on the estimated 5pc increase, according to Freeport-McMoRan chief executive officer Kathleen Quirk. Approximately 40pc of the company's US costs will not be subject to tariffs, as they relate to labor and services. Copper is currently exempt from tariffs after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on 25 February launching a Section 232 investigation into the effect of copper imports on US national and economic security. Freeport said that its first quarter copper sales volumes of 872mn lbs exceeded its earlier estimate of 850mn lbs. But copper sales revenue decreased to $872mn this quarter from $1.1bn the first quarter of 2024. Copper production and sales were pressured in the quarter by shut operations at its Manyar smelter in Indonesia following sfire in October . The company expects start-up activities to begin at the smelter in the second quarter and return to full operations by the end of 2025. The company's molybdenum first quarter sales remained the same as 2024 first quarter's at $20mn. Freeport's net income for the first quarter was $352mn, a decrease from $473mn in the first quarter of 2024. By Reagan Patrowicz Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
SA Recycling expands Atlanta shredder rail spur
SA Recycling expands Atlanta shredder rail spur
Pittsburgh, 24 April (Argus) — US scrap metal processor SA Recycling is expanding the rail spur at its Doraville, Georgia, shredder, which is about 20 miles northeast of Atlanta. The expansion will nearly double rail capacity at the facility by boosting its daily carloads from 14 up to 25 per day, according to railroad Norfolk Southern. The company worked with the railroad to establish a direct connection between its scrap yard and the rail yard to eliminate mainline switching conflicts and congestion. SA's Doraville shredder can process up to 200 cars/hour. It is one of 28 SA operations across the state, according to the company's website. The Orange County, California-based company is a 50-50 joint venture between Sims and Adams Steel. By Brad MacAulay Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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