Ukrainian Ferroalloy Production Doubles

Ukrainian Ferroalloy Production Doubles

Ukraine doubled its ferroalloy output in the first seven months of this year, according to figures released by Ukrainian Ferroalloy Producers' Association.

Output for the period grew to 871,500 tonnes. Silicon manganese production grew 83.1 per cent to 573,700 tonnes, ferromanganese rose 260 per cent to 173,000 tonnes, ferrosilicon 45 output rose 71.7 per cent to 116,400 tonnes and manganese metal production was up 7.7 per cent to 8,400 tonnes.

The country’s largest producer, Nikopol Ferroalloy Works (NFW), raised silicon manganese production 65.8 per cent year-on-year in the seven months to 421,000 tonnes while ferromanganese production was up 460 per cent to 132,500 tonnes. Overall ferroalloy output at Nikopol rose 140 per cent year-on-year to 554,000 tonnes.

Zaporizhia Ferroalloy Works (ZFW) saw silicon manganese production more than double to 103,100 tonnes with output of ferrosilicon 45 rising 120 per cent to 33,800 tonnes. ZFW’s ferromanganese was up 64.4 per cent to 40,500 tonnes and manganese metal production rose 7.7 per cent to 8,400 tonnes. Total ferroalloy output at ZFW doubled to 185,800 tonnes.

The Stakhanov Ferroalloy Plant (SZF), doubled its total production to 131,700 tonnes, while the country's two manganese concentrate producers, the Ordzhonikidze and Marhanets mining and beneficiation plants, produced 846,500 tonnes of concentrate between them in January-July - more than double the production in the same period of last year.

Huge Increase In Ukrainian Ferroalloy Production

Ukraine’s ferroalloy industry confirmed its recovery when the Association of Ukrainian Ferroalloy Producers (UkrFA) reported that production in the first two months of 2010 increased by 2.9 times to 240,700 metric tonnes compared to the first two months of last year.

Silico-manganese output rose 2.8 times to 158,100 mt, ferromanganese production rose 5.4 times to 46,100 mt; ferrosilicon output increased 2.2 times to 33,700 mt, and metallic manganese production rose 86.7 percent to 2,800 mt, all compared to the same period of 2009.

The three largest ferroalloy producers all reported significant increases: Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant, increased its output by three times to 148,600 mt, including 112,900 mt of silico-manganese and 35,700 mt of ferromanganese. Zaporozhye Ferro Alloys Plant increased its ferroalloys output by 2.6 times to 53,800 mt, including 31,600 mt of silicomanganese, 9,000 mt of ferrosilicon, 10,400 mt of ferromanganese, and 2,800 mt of metallic manganese. Stakhanov Ferroalloy Plant increased its output by 3.3 times year on year to 38,300 mt, including 24,700 mt of ferrosilicon and 13,600 mt of silico-manganese.

Turkey's Ferroalloy Imports Fall 19 Per Cent In 2009

Turkey's ferroalloy imports fell by almost 19 percent in 2009. Total imports were 314,661 metric tons according to figures from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK).

Ferromanganese imports were 46,760 metric tons, down 36.22 percent on 2008; ferrosilicon imports were 62,655 metric tons, down 14.54 percent; ferrosilicon-manganese imports were 193,324 metric tons, down 1.18 percent; and ferrochrome imports totalled 2,786 metric tons, down by 98.58 percent.

Ferroalloy imports from the CIS countries accounted for 77 percent of total ferroalloy imports, while imports from Europe constituted 9.6 percent and Asian countries 8.5 percent.

Globe Re-opens Selma Silicon Plant

Globe Specialty Metals has taken on 90 staff to operate its silicon plant in Selma, Alabama, which re-opened on Friday.

“Globe Selma is back on its feet and standing tall,” said Globe CEO Jeff Bradley. “We look forward to a future in Selma that is bright.”

The Selma plant has an annual production of over 27,000 tons of metallurgical grade silicon and silicon ferro-alloys, supplying to manufacturers of aluminium, electronics, solar panels, silicon chemicals, the auto industry, ductile iron foundries and concrete products.

The company made the Selma plant idle in April of last year but reopened it with renovated machinery last October. As production picked back up the company added 90 more positions.

“The country and state have been through some tough times and this year is going to be tough too,” Bradley said. “But, we are going to keep jobs on our own soil.”

Turkey Imported 84 Per Cent More Ferroalloys In November

According to the customs statistics compiled by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), in November 2009 Turkey imported 32,837 metric tons of ferroalloys, increasing its imports of the products in question by 84.48 percent compared to October.

In November, of the various ferroalloys, the country's ferromanganese imports increased by 2.5 times, reaching 3,289 metric tons, ferrosilicon imports totaled 5,805 metric tons, rising by 43.48 percent, while ferrosilicomanganese imports amounted to 22,173 metric tons, up 89.32 percent, all compared to October.

Source: Steel Orbis

Ukraine Ferroalloy Production Down By A Quarter In 2009

According to the Association of Ukrainian Ferroalloy Producers (UkrFA), in 2009 Ukraine registered a 25.2 percent decrease year on year in its ferroalloys production to 1.036 million mt.

Accordingly, in 2009, Ukraine's silicomanganese output decreased by 15.6 percent to 741,900 mt, its ferromanganese production went down by 64 percent to 129,400 mt, its ferrosilicon output increased by 7.4 percent to 150,300 mt, while its metallic manganese production went up by 75.6 percent to 15,100 mt, all compared to 2008.

SourcE: Stele Orbis

Output Down At Zaporozhye Ferroalloys Plant

During 11 months of 2009, Zaporozhye Ferroalloys Plant in Ukraine reduced its silicomanganese output by 54.6% to 102,400 tonnes, ferrosilicon (in recalculation to 45%) by 40.9% to 34,300 tonnes, ferromanganese by 46% to 47,500 tonnes. Production of metallic manganese increased by 58.1% to 13,600 tonnes.

In 2008 in comparison to 2007, ZFZ reduced its output by 21.4% to 386,200 tonnes, silicomanganese reduced by 29.9% to 227,100 tonnes, metallic manganese by 23% to 8,700 tonnes, ferrosilicon (in recalculation to 45%) by 14.5% to 60,400 tonnes, ferromanganese output increased by 5.5% to 90,000 tonnes.

The plant supplies 30% to 35% of its production to the local market, the rest goes for export to CIS, EU, Asia and Africa.

Source: Steel Guru

Turkish Ferroalloy Imports Fall In October

According to customs statistics compiled by the Turkish Statistical Institute in October 2009, Turkey imported 17,800 tonnes of ferroalloys decreasing its imports of the products in question by 44.2% as compared to September.

In October the country's ferromanganese imports declined by 84.38% reaching 939 tonnes, ferrosilicon imports totalled 4,046 tonnes decreasing by 44.33% while ferrosilicomanganese imports amounted to 11,712 tonnes down 34.77% all compared to September.

Source: Steel Guru

Steep Fall In Ukrainian Ferroally Production

According to the Association of Ukrainian Ferroalloy Producers, in January to October this year Ukraine registered a decreased of 41.5% YoY in ferroalloys production to 810,700 tonnes.

During the first ten months of 2009, Ukraine silicomanganese output decreased by 33.8%YoY to 582,000 tonnes, ferromanganese production went down by 72.6% YoY to 98,500 tonnes, ferrosilicon output dropped by 15.9% YoY to 117,800 tonnes while metallic manganese production increased by 44.2% YoY to 12,400 tonnes.

According to the preliminary data, in January to October this year the largest Ukrainian ferroalloy producer Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant reduced its ferroalloy output by 36%YoY to 520,700 tonnes including 463,400 tonnes of silicomanganese down by 16.6% YoY and 57,300 tonnes of ferromanganese down by 77.7% YoY. Since the beginning of the year, the plant has not produced any other ferroalloys.

Source: Steel Guru

China Reissues 51 Ferroalloy Export Licences

China's Ministry of Commerce has re-issued ferroalloy export licences to 51 enterprises for the first time after the introduction of the licence system. However, this is only an adjustment of export qualification. Lower export duties on ferroalloy products are still expected in the unforeseeable future.

MoC said in a circular on June 17th that the qualified 51 enterprises could apply to provincial-level departments for an export licence. The 51 enterprises include 44 enterprises for general trade, 2 for border trade, 3 in earthquake-hit regions, 1 recommended by western regions and 1 foreign-funded enterprise.

MoC introduced an export licence system last August in an attempt to strengthen ferroalloy export management. Enterprises much be qualified for industry admittance, exported more than 3,000 tonnes of FeMn, FeSi and SiMn in 2007, with products reaching domestic standard and winning ISO9000 certificate. The number of qualified enterprises in each province is also very limited.

Officials from the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals Minerals & Chemicals Importers & Exporters told Shihua Financial Information that the 51 enterprises have been checked according to MoC regulations and declined to elaborate or make comment on whether ferroalloy export duty should be adjusted.

MoC has entrusted CCCMC and China Ferroalloys Industry Association with the initial examination of relevant enterprises and asked them for advices.

Mr Zhang Zengchan, assistant to the chairman of CFIA, revealed that China's ferroalloy exports collapsed between January and April as demand shrinks dramatically in the international market. He admitted CFIA has called for an adjustment in ferroalloy export policies several times since last December but in vain.

Besides the export licences, Chinese customers have hammered out floor prices for ferroalloy products. This would be equal to an export duty hike when market prices fall below the floor prices.

On the other hand, ferroalloy imports are increasing and that trend still continues. Analysis reports point out that imported resources now dominate domestic market. In May domestic Cr-series alloys markets remained firm but large amounts of imported FeCr flooded in, pressing domestic FeCr producers to suspend production and curbing domestic price rise.

Mr Zhang is not optimistic for the ferroalloy market in 2009. Given dull international demand, the impact brought by imports, an export duty adjustment and weak risk-resistance in China's fragmented ferroalloy sector, the ferroalloy market can hardly walk out of sluggish performance with modest fluctuations in this year.

Source: Steel Guru

Iran Commences Ferroalloy Production

The managing director of the Iranian Mineral Production and Supplying Company (IMPASCO) said on Saturday that domestic experts have now acquired the know-how to produce various kinds of ferroalloys and that Iran will soon become a Middle Eastern ferroalloy production hub.

According to IRINN, Ardeshir Saad-Mohammadi added that Iran is now producing ferromolybdenum, ferrosilicon, ferrochromium, and ferrotitanium.

“Once we acquire the technology for producing ferrovanadium, Iran will become the hub of producing ferroalloys in the Middle East,” he noted.

Source: Tehran Times

NZF Restarts Three Furnaces

Ukraine’s largest ferroalloys producer, the Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant, has announced that the it has restarted production at three of its furnaces because of improved demand.

NZF plans to increase ferroalloy production by 64% of capacity in February to 30,100 tonnes, compared to output in January of 18,300 tonnes.

There are now six furnaces in operation producing ferromanganese and ferrosilicon.

Ferbasa To Commission New Furnace

Brazilian ferroalloy producer Ferbasa is scheduled to complete the construction of a new electric furnace with a transformer capacity of 32,400 KVA in March with the capacity to produce 18,000 tonnes per annum of ferrosilicon.

Total capacity at Ferbasa will be expanded to produce 81,000 tonnes per annum of ferrosilicon by five electric furnaces. The new furnace will be commissioned in the spring.

Source: Tex Report

Chinese Ferroalloy Prices Rise On Increased Demand

Reports from China suggest that domestic prices of bulk ferroalloys have rebounded with an increase in spot purchases from steel mills since the start of the month. This is partly in order to strengthen cash flow prior to the start of the Lunar New Year holiday on 26 January.

The current price of Chinese silicomanganese is CNY8,000 to CNY 8,500 per tonne and the export price for Japan has risen by USD 100 per tonne to USD 1,450 to 1,500 per tonne CIF. The price of high carbon ferromanganese prevailing in China's domestic market is CNY 8,300 to 8,500 per tonne and that of medium carbon ferromanganese is CNY 10,600 per tonne.

The price of Chinese ferrosilicon bottomed out in late December. Since the start of 2009 Chinese ferrosilicon is now being offered at USD 1,120 to 1,150 per tonne CIF Japan, having risen further from USD 1,000 CIF at the end December of 2008. A lower price than USD 1,000 per tonne for silicomanganese in the middle of December has now disappeared from the market.

Major producers of ferrosilicon in China decided in December to set a benchmark price of USD 1,090 per tonne FOB as a target for export business.

Sources: Steel Guru, MySteel