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Sherritt lifts 2020 nickel guidance

  • Market: Fertilizers, Metals
  • 22/01/20

Nickel and cobalt producer Sherritt raised its 2020 nickel production guidance from the previous year at its Moa joint-venture in Cuba, while cobalt output expectations were unchanged.

Sherritt expects to produce 32,000-34,000 metric tons (t) of nickel in 2020 at its joint-venture enterprise with General Nickel of Cuba, up by about 3pc from last year. Cobalt production outlook for the site is unchanged from the previous year at 3,300-3,600 t/yr.

Nickel output from the Moa joint venture increased by 8pc to 33,108t in 2019, while cobalt production moved higher by 4pc to 3,376t of cobalt in the same period.

At Ambatovy in Madagascar, Sherritt's former joint venture with Sumitomo and Korean Resources, nickel production increased by 2pc to 33,733t in 2019 compared with the previous year and cobalt production also grew by 2pc to 2,900t from the prior year period.

Sherritt became a defaulting shareholder in the Ambatovy Nickel Project on 5 March 2019. It did not provide production guidance for the upcoming year as it no longer considers it an operating segment for its accounting purposes.

By Nicholas Bell


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23/04/25

Brazil's Rifertil files for bankruptcy protection

Brazil's Rifertil files for bankruptcy protection

Sao Paulo, 23 April (Argus) — Brazilian fertilizer producer Rifertil filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors, citing a debt load inflated by currency impacts, falling prices and tough sector conditions caused by drought last year. Rifertil's debts total R647.9mn ($112.7mn), according to a document seen by Argus , which was filed with the civil court of Rio Verde, in central-western Goias state. The request, also confirmed by the office of the company's attorney, was filed on 22 April and is now awaiting analysis by the Goias court. The bankruptcy protection filing highlights that the fertilizer sector has been facing difficulties since 2022, when nutrient prices were high because of the Covid-19 pandemic and, later, because of the beginning of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. At that time, predictions such as a shortage in the global fertilizer market contributed to an increase in fertilizer prices. But the forecasts did not materialize and prices fell in the following months, causing losses that have hit the company's cash flow since then. The document also highlights problems faced by producers in Goias, the company's main market and headquarters. Between the last quarter of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, many cities in Goias declared states of emergency because of drier than usual weather conditions. This contributed to a lack of liquidity for producers, hurting Brazil's agribusiness, especially from an increase in defaults from customers. Rifertil's attorney also said that the US dollar's strengthening to the Brazilian real throughout the second half of 2024 inflated the company's debt, since many products and services in the fertilizer sector are traded in US dollars. The company was founded in 2000 and its headquarters is in Rio Verde city, in Goias. It also has factories in Catalao city, Goias, and Maruim city, in northern Sergipe state. The three units' combined capacity is of 750,000 metric tonnes/yr. By João Petrini Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Indonesia stands committed to Ni controls: Ni Indonesia


23/04/25
News
23/04/25

Indonesia stands committed to Ni controls: Ni Indonesia

London, 23 April (Argus) — Indonesia remains committed to controlling nickel exports as well as increasing downstream value, the country's environment minister told delegates at the first Argus Nickel Indonesia conference today. Cecep Mochammad Yasin, director of mineral business development at the energy and mineral resources ministry, said the rapid growth of Indonesian nickel output made it necessary to adjust royalty rates and maintain output controls to preserve "invaluable nickel reserves" and stabilise prices on the international market. The Indonesian government in March adopted Regulation 19 of 2025, increasing royalty rates for nickel ore to 14-19pc, up from a previous flat rate of 10pc, while Ferronickel and NPI royalty rates were introduced at 5-7pc and nickel matte at 3.5-5.5pc. The new rates will take effect from the end of April. "This is a critical step towards ensuring that our natural resources give optimum benefits to all Indonesians by gradually increasing royalty rates," Cecep said. Preserving Indonesia's mineral wealth Cecep emphasised his country's commitment to preserving nickel reserves, saying Indonesia needed to maintain production controls to increase the longevity of critical minerals. "We have a responsibility to manage this resource to ensure availability for future generations," he said. "Massive exploitation of natural resources without regard for conservation will result in resource depletion. We must learn from other countries' experiences to make sure our nickel reserves are not depleted too quickly." Indonesia earlier this year set a production quota for nickel ore in 2025 at around 200mn t, a reduction from 2024's estimated production of 215mn t. The government had previously approved 240mn t of production out to 2026, but a reduction was made in January owing to a nickel supply glut in the international market. Since then, nickel prices have continued to fall, reaching their lowest since early 2020 at $14,000-14,030/t on the London Metal Exchange (LME) on 9 April after US tariffs were announced. Prices have since bounced back to about $15,000/t on continued trade negotiations between the US and other economic partners. The minister also hinted at working with other nickel producing countries "to create a shared understanding of global production management", which he said would be a "key step" towards international price stability. Government officials warned delegates that over the coming years, the quality of nickel grades will decline, as some of the low-hanging fruit has already been picked. "Resource quality will gradually decline," Indonesia's National Economic Council executive director Tubugas Nugraha said. "Over the next 2-3 years this trend will be balanced by increased production, but in the longer term the nickel content, especially in our NPI products will face structural challenges." Increasing downstream ambitions Indonesia has ambitions to add further value downstream in the supply chain, including in stainless steel and battery production, delegates heard. "By promoting the growth of domestic nickel processing and refining industries, we can increase added value and reduce reliance on exports," Tabagus told delegates. "Downstreaming can also absorb part of the supply and produce consistent demand." Tubagus added that downstreaming is part of Indonesia's 2045 plan for economic development, moving from extracting raw ore to producing value-added materials. He added that the country's ambition was to become a "global hub" for stainless steel, battery raw materials and electric vehicle (EV) components. Under the Indonesia Emas 2045 plan, the country plans to invest over $600bn into commodity linked industries in the coming decades, in order to escape what Indonesian national development planning ministry energy resources director Nizhar Marizi called its own "middle-income trap". Tax revenues will be key to this plan, as a report by the World Bank in December 2024 highlighted, saying Indonesia would need "structural reforms" to increase tax receipts and fund its ambitions. By Thomas Kavanagh Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Kaltim granular urea bid in low $400s/t fob Indonesia


22/04/25
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22/04/25

Kaltim granular urea bid in low $400s/t fob Indonesia

Amsterdam, 22 April (Argus) — A trading firm is understood to have bid $402/t fob Bontang in Pupuk Indonesia subsidiary Kaltim's granular urea sales tender today. Other bids were heard around and above $400/t fob, but most were in the $390s/t fob and below. But there was no comment from the parties involved. Kaltim offered 45,000t of bulk granular urea for shipment in the first week of May. Bids were to be valid until 24 April. This enquiry follows BFI's sales tender in Brunei on 17 April for three lots of 6,000t of granular urea, which saw a trading firm bid up to around $405/t fob for second-half-May loading. By Harry Minihan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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South Korea's LGES exits Indonesia's $8.4bn EV project


22/04/25
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22/04/25

South Korea's LGES exits Indonesia's $8.4bn EV project

Singapore, 22 April (Argus) — Top South Korean battery firm LG Energy Solution (LGES) has pulled out of Indonesia's Grand Package project, which is supposed to be an integrated electric vehicle (EV) battery project worth 142 trillion Indonesia rupiah ($8.4bn). "Taking into account various factors, including market conditions and investment environment, we have agreed to formally withdraw from the Indonesia [Grand Package] GP project," LGES told Argus on 22 April. The mega project was in the making since 2019. It involves an LG consortium that consists of multiple South Korean firms including LGES, LG Chem, LX International and Posco Future M, major Chinese cobalt refiner and nickel-cobalt-manganese precursor producer Huayou, Indonesian state-controlled mining firm Aneka Tambang (Antam) as well as consortium Indonesia Battery. Original plans included building a $1.1bn battery cell plant and were supposed to be followed by a smelter, precursor and cathode plant as well as "mining cooperation" with Antam. "However, we will continue to explore various avenues of collaboration with the Indonesian government, centering on the Indonesia battery joint venture, HLI Green Power," the firm added. The HLI Green Power is LGES' 10 GWh/yr Indonesian battery production joint venture with South Korean conglomerate Hyundai Motor, which started mass production last April. LGES earlier this year also invested in Chinese battery cathode maker Lopal Tech's lithium iron phosphate plant in Indonesia . LGES last year said it plans to reduce its dependence on the EV battery business and has signed multiple energy storage system battery supply deals so far this year, including with Taiwanese electronics manufacturing firm Delta Electronics and Polish state-controlled utility PGE . By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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India imposes 12pc safeguard duty on flat steel imports


22/04/25
News
22/04/25

India imposes 12pc safeguard duty on flat steel imports

Mumbai, 22 April (Argus) — The Indian government has imposed a 12pc provisional duty on certain flat steel imports for 200 days to shield the domestic steel industry. The duty, applicable from 21 April, was implemented following a recommendation by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies in March. It covers products under HS codes 7208, 7209, 7210, 7211, 7212, 7225 and 7226, the ministry of finance said in a notification. As recommended by the DGTR, the duty is only applicable if the import price is below a certain threshold, which is different for each product. For hot-rolled coils (HRC), the safeguard duty will not be applicable if the product is imported at or above $675/t cif, while the threshold is set at $824/t cif for cold-rolled coils. Domestic Indian steelmakers in 2024 sought protection from lower-priced imports from China and other Asian suppliers, which pushed local HRC prices to multi-year lows last year. The DGTR subsequently launched a safeguard investigation in December 2024. HRC prices rebounded last month, partly because of rumors and speculation around potential safeguard measures, and received a further boost following the duty proposal on 18 March. The Argus weekly Indian domestic HRC assessment for 2.5-4mm material reached over an eight-month high of 52,100 rupees/t ($612/t) ex-Mumbai, excluding goods and services tax, on 4 April, increasing by 9pc compared to the end of February. Sentiment shifted over the last few weeks because of escalating US-China trade tensions, with the assessment falling to Rs51,000/t on 17 April as restocking interest cooled. Surging imports pose a threat to the domestic industry and there is a need to implement provisional safeguard measures immediately, the DGTR said in its recommendations. India remained a net importer of finished steel in the April 2024-March 2025 fiscal year, with inflows increasing by 15pc on the year to 9.5mn t, according to ministry data. China has been a major supplier, owing to its weak domestic market, while imports from countries which India has a free-trade agreement with — such as South Korea and Japan — have also risen. South Korea was the top supplier to India during April 2024-February 2025, and accounted for 30pc of its total finished steel imports. Among developing countries, only China and Vietnam will be subject to safeguard duties. "Unchecked imports — especially from countries with significant excess capacity — threaten domestic manufacturing, employment, and future investments," said Indian producer Tata Steel's chief executive T.V. Narendran. "This decision will help restore fair competition, ensure the industry's long-term sustainability, and support India's vision of a self-reliant and globally competitive steel sector," Narendran added. The trade market reaction to the safeguard duty implementation was mixed, with some saying mills could take a cautious approach as buyers have been resisting latest price hikes, while others said steelmakers were likely to hike prices immediately. Indian steel mills increased prices by about Rs4,000/t following rumors around safeguards and the duty proposal, and now a further uptrend in prices is expected, an international steel trader said. A local steel distributor said steel mills would definitely raise prices, but in May instead of this month. By Amruta Khandekar Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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