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Ford North American sales fall sequentially

  • Market: Coking coal, Metals
  • 28/10/22

US automaker Ford's North American sales fell in the third quarter compared with the second quarter as partially completed vehicles weighed on its volumes.

The company's wholesale volumes in North America were 568,000 vehicles in the third quarter, down by 8.1pc from the prior quarter's 618,000 vehicles. The company estimates it has 40,000 partially completed vehicles waiting for additional semiconductor chips to come available before they can be finished and shipped to dealers. Ford expects these vehicles to be completed and sold in the fourth quarter.

Compared to the third quarter of 2021, Ford's wholesale volumes increased by 4pc.

Ford estimates that 2022 wholesale volumes will be up by 10pc compared with the prior year. For the year through the third quarter, the company's wholesale volumes are up by 9pc across its global footprint and up by 21pc in North America.


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13/05/25

Mexico industrial production contracts in March

Mexico industrial production contracts in March

Mexico City, 13 May (Argus) — Mexico's industrial production contracted by 0.9pc in March from the previous month, as declines in mining and manufacturing were only partly offset by continued growth in construction. The drop was not enough to undo the 2.2pc increase in February — the sharpest monthly expansion in four years — as manufacturers ramped up output ahead of incoming US tariffs. The March industrial production index (IMAI), published by statistics agency Inegi, was higher than Mexican bank Banorte's forecast of a 1.4pc decline. Banorte noted signs of volatility affecting manufacturing and other sectors because of a complex trade outlook. Manufacturing contracted 1.1pc in March after expanding 2.9pc in February. The impact varied across subsectors, with metal goods down 5.5pc and transportation, including auto production, down 1.1pc. Volatility may ease in the coming months as US tariff policies become clearer and Mexican officials push to preserve the country's trade edge under US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) free trade agreement rules, Banorte said. Construction expanded 0.8pc in March, following increases of 3.4pc in February and 0.5pc in January, driven by higher public investment tied to President Claudia Sheinbaum's economic plan, "Plan Mexico." Analysts see the plan as a catalyst for continued growth in construction this year, with measures including greater domestic content in public purchases, public-private participation in infrastructure projects and a target of $100bn in private infrastructure investment for 2025. These effects could be amplified by aggressive interest rate cuts from the central bank. Mining contracted by 2.7pc in March, returning to negative territory after a slight 0.1pc uptick in February. Oil and gas output also contracted 2.7pc after rising 1.0pc the month before, while non-oil mining contracted 4.3pc in March after a 0.6pc increase in February. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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US inflation eases to 2.3pc in April


13/05/25
News
13/05/25

US inflation eases to 2.3pc in April

Houston, 13 May (Argus) — US inflation slowed in April, pulled lower by falling gasoline prices, while core inflation continued to show signs of mounting inflation pressures, as the new US administration's tariff policies have scrambled corporate and consumer investment and spending patterns. The consumer price index (CPI) slowed to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.3pc in April, down from 2.4pc in March and off from 2.8pc in February and the lowest rate since February 2021, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. Analysts surveyed by Trading Economics had forecast a 2.4pc rate for April. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy, rose at an 2.8pc annual rate, unchanged from the prior month. The deceleration in inflation came a month after President Donald Trump began to levy tariffs on imports from China and on steel, aluminum and automobiles, starting in February. Several tariff deadlines were pushed back, including a three-month pause enacted this week on much steeper tariffs for most countries. The tariffs have prompted companies and consumers to pull back on investments and some purchases while shaking up financial markets, and heightening concerns of a global recession. The energy index fell by an annual 3.7pc in April, down from 3.3pc in March. Gasoline fell by 11.8pc after a 9.8pc decline. Piped natural gas rose by an annual 15.7pc following a 9.4pc gain. Food rose by an annual 2.8pc, slowing from 3pc. Eggs slowed to an annual 49.3pc after an annual 60.4pc, as avian flu has slashed supply. Shelter rose by an annual 4pc in March, matching the prior gain. Services less energy services rose by 3.6pc, slowing from 3.7pc in March. New vehicle prices edged up by an annual 0.3pc. CPI rose by a monthly 0.2pc in April after falling by 0.1pc in March. Core inflation rose by 0.2pc for the month following a 0.1pc gain in March. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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ISTA blasts 'ludicrous' Tata Steel UK assertion to TRA


13/05/25
News
13/05/25

ISTA blasts 'ludicrous' Tata Steel UK assertion to TRA

London, 13 May (Argus) — Tata Steel UK's claim to the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) that 2m-wide hot-rolled coil (HRC) could be bought for slitting is "ludicrous", according to the International Steel Trade Association (ISTA). In a submission to the TRA as part of its safeguard review, Tata said that if 2m-wide material, which it does not produce, is removed from the safeguard, it would be bought and slit, meaning it is no different from the material produced by Tata . But ISTA said 2m-wide HRC is a "significant part" of the yellow goods market and is used by companies such as JCB, Caterpillar and Liebherr for earth-moving, construction and agricultural equipment. It is also used in pipe and tube production and does not constitute a small proportion of the overall market, as suggested by Tata, ISTA said. The material must be imported as it is not manufactured in the UK and carries a premium over speed-stock widths produced by Tata. "For Tata Steel, who import volumes of this width themselves, to suggest that wider coil is ‘often imported only to be slit to narrower cuts' is ludicrous," ISTA said, arguing that there are "almost no" slitting lines in the UK that are capable of slitting 2m-wide material. The lines that do exist typically slit hot-dip galvanised (HDG) rather than HRC, Argus understands. Importers have also questioned the economic rationale of Tata's assertion that if higher-yield HDG is removed from the safeguard, importers would buy it and use it to compete with more commoditised grades produced by Tata. Higher-yield material carries a premium, and it would make no economic sense to pay it and then compete in the commodity market, trading firms told Argus . The TRA, which is expected to announce its provisional findings this week, is widely anticipated to propose caps on the quota for other countries' HDG. Importers told Argus that they were surprised by the aggressive tone of Tata's rebuttal to claims fielded by importers about material that it does not produce being excluded from the safeguard. By Colin Richardson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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India’s Vedanta expands metals exploration


13/05/25
News
13/05/25

India’s Vedanta expands metals exploration

Mumbai, 13 May (Argus) — Indian private-sector mining firm Vedanta is exploring critical mineral assets in six states as it looks to strengthen its position in the fast-growing clean energy value chain. Vedanta is exploring for copper, nickel, cobalt, chromium, vanadium, tungsten and platinum-group elements (PGEs) in states such as Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh supported by India's policy push for mineral security , it said on 10 May. Vedanta secured four mineral blocks in the fourth round of India's critical mineral auctions. It won a vanadium and graphite block in Arunachal Pradesh and a cobalt, manganese, and iron (polymetallic) block in Karnataka. Its subsidiary Hindustan Zinc (HZL) was awarded one tungsten block in Andhra Pradesh and another in Tamil Nadu. The company is expanding its value-added aluminium products capacity in billets, primary foundry alloys, rolled products and wire rods. Aluminium billets are used in the aerospace, defence and solar power sectors, while aluminium rolled products are used in high-speed railways, electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals and battery enclosures. HZL is exploring uses for zinc beyond galvanizing steel to protect it from rust, which currently accounts for over 60pc of global zinc demand. It has entered the zinc alloy sector with a 30,000t plant and plans to significantly increase the share of value-added products in its aluminium portfolio to over 90pc in the near term. Vedanta's board earlier this year approved an investment of about $1.5bn to expand its aluminium capacity, including an expansion at its smelter in Orisha to increase production, as well as increased value-added product capacity at its flagship aluminium plants. By Deepika Singh Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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US tariff to curb Japan’s crude steel output in FY25


13/05/25
News
13/05/25

US tariff to curb Japan’s crude steel output in FY25

Tokyo, 13 May (Argus) — Japan's major steel producers will likely cut their crude steel output in the current fiscal year ending in March 2026, partly because the US' blanket 25pc tariff on automobile imports will curb domestic car productions. The country's largest and second-largest steel mill by capacity Nippon Steel and JFE Steel estimates crude steel output at 33mn t and 21mn t respectively in April 2025-March 2026, both down on the year by around 1mn t. This comes as the US' tariffs on automobile imports is likely to cap domestic car production, according to the firms. The US levy could potentially reduce several hundred thousand tonnes of its steel products sales given that 20pc of the Japanese domestic car production is exported to the US, said JFE. Nippon Steel also forecasts lower steel demand because of a possible fall in auto and machinery exports to the US, although it is difficult for the company to evaluate the quantitative impact on the wider supply chain. Nippon Steel estimates Japan's total car exports to the US, including delivery via Canada and Mexico, is currently around 2.8mn units/yr, all of which could be subject to the US tariffs. Nippon Steel is cautious about providing its output projections given the unstable climate over the ongoing trade negotiations between Tokyo and Washington. Forecasting crude steel output for the current fiscal year is difficult given uncertainty over the possible impact of US tariff measures, Nippon Steel told Argus . JFE also said "further risk analysis is necessary", suggesting a possible revision of its production outlook. Meanwhile, Nippon Steel expects no significant impact from the US tariffs on its direct steel products delivered to the country for the time being. The impact of the tariffs will be limited given the firm's value-added products such as high-alloy seamless pipe are exported in small volumes and difficult to replace with other products, the company said. Some of its US clients designate Nippon Steel as the supplier of these products because US local manufactures are unable to produce them, the company added. Nippon Steel did not provide their export volumes. Domestic steel demand Domestic steel demand is also unlikely to recover in the short term regardless of the US tariff. The country's domestic crude steel output has been consistently falling over the past several years, but the recent downtrend appears to be especially worrying for the Japanese steel producers. The current slump in domestic steel demand is more severe than expected, Nippon Steel said, forecasting the continuous downtrend in steel demand for most of the steel consuming sectors including auto, construction and manufacturing industries. Sluggish demand has even led JFE to decide to completely close one of its steel production facilities. JFE announced on 8 May that it will shut down its No. 4 basic oxygen furnace (BOF) steel plant in western Japan's Fukuyama sometime in April 2027-March 2028, as part of the mid-term strategy. This will reduce the company's domestic steel production capacity to 21mn t/yr, down by 500t from the 2024-25 level, the company added. JFE decided to close the BOF plant because domestic steel demand is likely to continue falling on the back of shrinking populations and labour shortages, according to the firm. These are causing delays in construction projects and therefore weighing on steel demand, the firm added. By Yusuke Maekawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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