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China's Haisheng to build tungsten plant in Thailand

  • Spanish Market: Metals
  • 18/10/24

Chinese tungsten producer Ganzhou Haisheng is on track to build a new plant in Thailand after receiving approval from the local government earlier this month.

The project, with a total investment of 180mn yuan ($25mn), is designed to have production capacity of 3,000 t/yr for ammonium paratungstate (APT), 2,000 t/yr for tungsten powder, 1,200 t/yr for tungsten carbide, 400 t/yr for tungsten bar and 300 t/yr for cemented carbide.

Haisheng has not confirmed when the project will be completed and put into production. The firm currently has production lines from ores to downstream products including powder, metal and wires in China.

More Chinese tungsten producers that have sizeable export businesses are likely to develop projects outside China in the future. Trade conflicts between China and the US may hit Chinese tungsten exports in the longer term, especially after the US imposed a 25pc tariff on Chinese tungsten from 27 September.

Chinese exports of tungsten products totalled 11,718t of tungsten metal equivalent in January-August, down by 12pc on the year, customs data show.


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18/10/24

Automakers seek €200/t price cut from EU coil mills

Automakers seek €200/t price cut from EU coil mills

London, 18 October (Argus) — Buyers in the automotive supply chain are seeking price cuts of €200/t from EU mills for 2025 annual deals. The gap between the annual 2024 contracts and current spot market levels has reached an unsustainably large delta, automotive-facing service centres told Argus. Some automakers are paying as much as €250/t more than general industrial buyers, a figure that they want to reduce dramatically. Argus ' daily northwest EU HRC index was €551.50/t on 17 October, down by €198/t since early February, while the daily Italian index was €545.50/t, down by €208.50/t. Some service centres said automakers may even push for shorter-term deals as a result, but they often reduce their volume offtake and postpone deliveries when required, which some call a built-in 'call option' — a call-option gives buyers the ability to purchase if the market reaches what they view as an agreeable price. Automakers at present are delaying call-offs, which has exacerbated the supply and demand imbalance for steelmakers looking to churn out high volumes to secure carbon credit allowances for next year. One service centre said it is budgeting for a €100/t drop as mills are trying to maintain rollovers, with little support from the market environment. One large buyer called the recent increases in EU a "dead cat bounce", with little support from demand. Mills might manage to stem the declines to about €75/t, another said, which would still leave automotive deals at a hefty premium to spot market levels. One mill executive called the automotive demands "impossible", suggesting momentum would strengthen in the coming weeks as buyers look to procure first-quarter supply. A reduction in import volumes, existing anti-dumping investigations and other potential cases could contribute to this, alongside an expected cut in EU supply in the new year. Some automakers last year pushed to move to index-linked deals that would enable them to hedge their coil exposure on CME Group's north European hot-rolled coil contract. Automakers have been hedging their aluminium exposure for years and want to do the same for steel. If mills deem the market to be at its low, indexed deals could be a more attractive proposition this year. By Colin Richardson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Taiwan’s TSMC revenue up in 3Q on AI chip demand


17/10/24
17/10/24

Taiwan’s TSMC revenue up in 3Q on AI chip demand

London, 17 October (Argus) — Revenue at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) rose in the third quarter of this year, fuelled by robust smartphone demand and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. TSMC's net revenue surpassed expectations, climbing to $23.5bn in the third quarter, a nearly 13pc increase from $20.8bn in the second quarter. This also marked a 36pc year-on-year rise from $17.3bn in the third quarter of last year. TSMC initially set its third-quarter guidance at $22.4bn-23.2bn. Robust demand for TSMC's advanced technologies from AI and mobile phone applications drove the revenue boost. Sales of TSMC's most advanced 3-nanometer (3nm) process technology comprised a fifth of third-quarter revenue, higher than 15pc in the second quarter. Meanwhile, 5nm process technology constituted 32pc of revenues, a slight decrease from 35pc in the second quarter, while 7nm wafers remained steady at 17pc. High-performance computing continued to be TSMC's largest downstream consumer, accounting for 51pc of third-quarter revenues, while smartphones constituted 34pc and the Internet of Things made up 7pc. The automotive sector made up 5pc of revenues. Global mobile phone shipments increased to about 316mn units in the third quarter, higher by 4pc on the year, data from the International Data Corporation show. The launch of the new iPhone 16 in September and consistent growth among Chinese mobile phone manufacturers such as Huawei and Xiaomi contributed to the higher shipments. TSMC anticipates that AI and mobile phone demand will continue to boost revenues towards the year's end as it targeted a total revenue of $26.1bn-26.9bn in the fourth quarter. The roll-out of AI technology is expected to stimulate demand for compound semiconductor materials such as gallium nitride and gallium arsenide. These materials lose less energy as heat compared with silicon-based chips, thereby enhancing energy efficiency. By Sian Morris Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Barrick’s quarterly Cu output up in 3Q but down on year


17/10/24
17/10/24

Barrick’s quarterly Cu output up in 3Q but down on year

London, 17 October (Argus) — Canada-based mining company Barrick Gold's July-September preliminary copper output decreased on the year but increased by nearly 12pc on the quarter, indicating it remains on track to achieve its full-year production guidance, the company said on 16 October. Barrick's third-quarter preliminary copper production reached 48,000t, which is down by 5pc from the same period last year but up by 11.6pc on the quarter, driven by higher grades and recoveries at the Lumwana mine in Zambia following increased stripping activities last quarter. Lumwana produced 30,000t in July-September, which is 20pc higher on the quarter, and output is expected to continue improving through the last quarter as the commissioning of its new mining fleet progresses. Barrick's 50pc-owned Jabal Sayid mine in Saudi Arabia and the Zaldivar mine in Chile reported consistent year-on-year copper production, having produced 10,000t and 8,000t in the third quarter, respectively. Overall group copper production was 131,000t over January-September, a 16pc decrease on the year. Barrick maintains its 2024 copper production guidance of 180,000-210,000t, as the company said it expects a stronger fourth quarter. Barrick will provide additional information regarding its third-quarter production and sales on 7 November. By Roxana Lazar Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

India's OMC raises October chrome ore base prices


17/10/24
17/10/24

India's OMC raises October chrome ore base prices

Mumbai, 17 October (Argus) — India's state-owned Odisha Mining (OMC) increased base prices of chrome ore at its October auction because of limited availability of ores. OMC set the base price for 48-49.99pc grade ore from its South Kaliapani mines at 21,026 rupees/t ($250.2/t), up from 19,743 rupees/t at its September auction. Trades remain slow because of high production costs and a sluggish stainless steel market, despite producers seeking higher returns in the domestic market given high freight charges in the export market. OMC is selling its 50-51.99pc grade ore from its Sukrangi mines in October at Rs21,902/t, but it did not sell in September's auction. State-owned trading firm MSTC will, on OMC's behalf, offer 23,500t of 42-54pc grade friable chrome ore from the South Kaliapani and Sukrangi mines on 18 October. This is up from the 22,400t offered in OMC's September auction. And it will also offer 1,400t of 32-36pc lumps, chips and fines from OMC's Bangur mines. India's domestic 60pc grade ferro-chrome prices were stable at Rs110,000-111,500/t ex-works on 17 October. By Deepika Singh Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Asian 4Q steel, scrap prices may rise on firmer demand


17/10/24
17/10/24

Asian 4Q steel, scrap prices may rise on firmer demand

Singapore, 17 October (Argus) — Asian ferrous steel and scrap prices are expected to rise in the fourth quarter of 2024, supported by Beijing's economic stimulus, stronger demand and supply disruptions. But softer demand in Taiwan and South Korea could put a lid on positive sentiment. The Chinese domestic steel market has been on an uptrend since the end of September after the People's Bank of China (PBOC) announced measures to support the property market , leading to a rebound in seaborne steel prices. Higher Chinese steel prices also improved margins for overseas steelmakers, as the downward pressure from cheap Chinese steel products weakened, with the Argus cfr Asean billet assessment rising to $490/t on 10 October, from the year-to-date low of $445/t in the week ended September 5. China's ferrous sector is expected to remain strong in the fourth quarter of this year, as Beijing announced more fiscal stimulus to boost its economy on 12 October , and this is likely to boost investors' confidence and spur buying interest during the year-end restocking period from downstream buyers, trade sources said. In east Asia, Vietnamese steelmakers anticipate a firmer domestic steel market in the fourth quarter, following a challenging first nine months, marked by weaker demand and increased competition from Chinese products. But prices started to rebound at the end of September with the Chinese steel market bottoming out. Many Vietnamese buyers of hot-rolled coil (HRC) have also shifted towards local products since Vietnam initiated an anti-dumping investigation at the end of July into HRC imports from China and India. Many market participants expect a positive shift in HRC and construction steel prices from the fourth quarter onwards, as pressure from Chinese imports eases. Vietnam's steel demand is also set to benefit from increased public investment spending. With the country's prime minister, on 8 October, calling on authorities to speed up the disbursement of public investment in the remaining months of the year to stimulate economic growth, Vietnamese buyers have become more active in the seaborne scrap market as the steel market improves. A Vietnamese mill secured the winning bid for H2 scrap in the October Japanese Kanto tender on 9 October at ¥45,680/t (305.70/t) cfr, up ¥2,960/t from September's tender. Prices could find further support owing to a possible reduction in supply, as scrap generation in the US, the biggest scrap supplier globally, typically declines in the fourth quarter. There is a likelihood of disruptions to scrap collection and transportation owing to logistical challenges arising from the colder weather, which also slows down construction and industrial activity, particularly in northern regions. "Usually, buyers understand that the year-end festivities will result in slower scrap generation, so some buyers who are not purchasing every week will tend to seek more cargoes before that," a trader said. But the market in other regions like South Korea and Taiwan in Asia could lack momentum to support rising optimism. There are many uncertainties on the outlook of scrap prices, given the weight limits imposed on highway trucks that came into effect on 1 October, Taiwanese scrap buyers said. They added that catering for additional trucks to prevent overloading would be an added operational cost, which would affect their margins. Taiwan's cumulative automobile sales stood at around 344,000 units in the first three quarters of this year, marking a slight decrease of 1.6pc on the year. But demand for automobile steel is still deemed to be relatively high, China Steel Corporation — the biggest steel mill in Taiwan— said on 16 October, adding that the fourth quarter is usually a peak season for the steel industry, which may help support steel prices. In South Korea, with poor domestic steel demand continuing to weigh on the nation's steelmaking capacity, steel production fell over January-August. The sixth biggest steelmaker produced 42.5mn tons over January-August, marking the biggest year-on-year decline of 5.5pc among the top ten steel-producing countries this year. The World Steel Association has revised its forecast for world steel demand to 1.75bn tons in 2024, down by 0.9pc on the year, from a year-on-year increase of 1.7pc to 1.79bn previously. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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