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Iron ore demand forecast to stay steady in 2015

Source: www.chinamining.org   Citation: China Daily   Date: December 4, 2014

Iron ore imports are expected to grow 6.4 percent year-on-year to around 1 billion metric tons in China during 2015, driven largely by lower commodity prices and growth in domestic demand, industry experts said on Wednesday.

The growth rate is significantly lower than the estimated 14.7 percent increase in 2014, according to a report released by the China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute.

Although the GDP growth rate of the world`s second-largest economy will decline as the country restructures its growth mode, domestic steel output and demand will increase next year, which will lead to higher iron ore imports, said Li Xinchuang, deputy secretary-general of China Iron and Steel Association and president of the institute.

"The falling iron ore price is another incentive for rising imports," Li said.

He said iron ore prices will stay low at around $70 to $80 a metric ton next year and are unlikely to fall below $60 a ton.

According to a report released by the institute, iron ore imports by China during 2014 are estimated to be around 940 million tons, a 14.7 percent growth over the levels in 2013.

Li said the world`s top four miners-Rio Tinto Plc, BHP Billiton Ltd, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd and Vale SA-can still make profits when even iron ore prices fall to $60 a ton, while the same could put a number of Chinese iron ore mines into bankruptcy.

Rio Tinto, which has charted a capacity expansion plan from its current 290 million tons to 360 million tons by mid-2015, has low iron ore costs of around $40 a ton, according to Andrew Harding, chief executive of the company`s iron ore business.

The National Development and Reform Commission, the country`s economic planner, has approved several railway and airport construction projects, with a total investment of 700 billion yuan ($114.2 billion), since October, which will keep steel demand robust in the long term, said Zhou Wei, an analyst with the Beijing-based Lange Steel Information Research Center.

According to the institute`s report, steel demand in China will reach 720 million tons in 2015, representing an annual growth of 1.41 percent, and the country`s crude steel output will be 834 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 1.71 percent.

"Real estate and infrastructure construction investments will see slower growth next year as the nation takes steps to ease the overcapacity problem in many industries and trim inventories, which will lead to a slower growth in steel demand," said the report.

Demand for steel in the construction sector is estimated to be about 395 million tons next year, up 1.28 percent year-on-year. Steel demand for machinery manufacturing is estimated to be 144 million tons, a 3 percent rise over 2014.

Boosted by more natural gas pipeline construction, the energy sector will have steel demand of 33 million tons, an annual growth of 3.1 percent. The shipbuilding market will remain gloomy in 2015, creating steel demand of 13.5 million tons with year-on-year growth of 3.8 percent.

Most Chinese companies have been actively tapping overseas markets in recent years with high-end steel products. Hebei Iron and Steel Group Co Ltd signed an agreement with Switzerland-based Duferco International Trading Holding to acquire 51 percent of the latter`s shares in mid-November.

Yu Yong, president of HBIS, said the "going out" strategy is a better way out of the current domestic market and competition in the global market would prove beneficial for the company`s development.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2015 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2015. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 17^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2015, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.

Large rare metal discovery in Xinjiang

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: Xinhua  Date: November 25, 2014

Geologists have discovered a large field containing rich deposits of rare molybdenum in northwest China`s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, local officials said Tuesday.

Molybdenum is a hard, silvery mineral mainly used as an alloying agent in steel and tungsten. It is used in the aviation, construction and military manufacturing industries.

With at least 573,000 tons of proven reserves, worth an estimated 60 billion yuan (10 billion U.S. dollars), it is the largest deposit of molybdenum ever discovered in the resource rich Xinjiang.

The mine is located 100 kilometers south of Yumin County, northwestern Xinjiang, according to the regional mining authority.

The discovery will not only advance the development of the new Molybdenum-related industry in Xinjiang, but will also benefit local revenue and employment, according to the authority.

The authority has worked with a mine company from neighboring Qinghai Province and has spent six years and 100 million yuan on the exploration project.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2015 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2015. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 17^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2015, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.

China to step up oil, gas exploration in East, South China Seas

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: Ecns.cn  Date: November 21, 2014

China aims to raise petroleum output by updating its technology and stepping up oil and gas exploration across Bohai, East China and South China Seas.

The plan was outlined in an energy development scheme for 2014 to 2020 issued by the State Council on Wednesday.

To accelerate offshore oil and natural gas exploration, China will improve its own technology as well as actively seek overseas partners.

The country will attach equal importance to onshore oil fields, stabilizing old sites and exploring new alternatives, especially those in West China.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2015 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2015. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 17^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2015, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.

China`s October refined copper output jumps 14% on year to 732,746 mt

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: Platts  Date: November 18, 2014

China`s refined copper production jumped 13.6% year on year to a record high of 732,746 mt in October, the state-owned nonferrous metals information division Beijing Antaike said late Monday, November 17, citing the country`s National Bureau of Statistics.

The October output was up 2.5% from September.

Year-to-date output figures were not available. An Antaike official said previously that China produced 5.65 million mt in the first nine months, compared with 5.05 million mt in January-September 2013.

Over January-October, Platts calculated that China`s refined copper output was around 6.38 million mt, up 11.9% year on year.

The Antaike official said China`s higher refined copper output was in line with the country`s higher capacities, which are expected to rise 11.1% year on year to around 10 million mt in 2014.

China`s imports of copper concentrate rose 17.2% year on year to 9.5 million mt in January-October, according to preliminary data from the General Administration of Customs.

China`s domestic refined copper output is expected to rise 5.6% year on year to 6.6 million mt in 2014, the Antaike analyst said.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2015 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2015. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 17^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2015, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.

Tianjin Port adds investment on Shenhua`s dock

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: chinadaily.com.cn  Date: Novmber 13, 2014

Tianjin Port Co. will expand its share in the Tianjin Shenhua Coal Dock Co. Ltd. with a total of 630 million yuan ($103 million), together with China¡¯s largest coal supplier Shenhua Group Co. Ltd., Xinhuanet.com reported on Nov 8.

The capital expansion of Tianjin Port will hold as many as the Shenhua Group, accounting for 90 percent of the total.

The move of Tianjin Port Co. Ltd. was made to expand its current production and improve the service at the dock, so as to strengthen the competitiveness. As of now, a wholly-owned subsidiary Shenhua (Tianjin) Dock Co. Ltd. will be set up.

The new company will serve as a main investor in the second phase of Shenhua Coal Dock Co. Ltd.¡¯s construction project of the Nanjiang Port in Tianjin, including a 100,000-ton berth and two 700,000-ton berths, as well as port facilities.

With an annual cargo capability of 35 million tons, the project¡¯s annual revenue is expected to reach 770 million yuan upon its completion.

In addition, Shenhua¡¯s cargo shipped from Tianjin Port will reach 80 million tons, and the coal cargo capability of Tianjin Port will exceed 100 million tons.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2015 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2015. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 17^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2015, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.

Overcapacity driving China`s coal industry into the ground

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: www.wantchinatimes.com  Date: November 04, 2014

With coal prices spiraling downward, major Chinese coal firms are going to sink even further into the red unless they can improve and adapt their operations to the new industry climate, reports Shanghai`s China Business News.

In the first three quarters this year, 20 major Chinese coal firms suffered a total net deficit of 10.56 billion yuan (US$1.7 billion), with only seven of them managing to scrape in a slim profit. Combined accounts receivable also topped staggering 130 billion yuan (US$21.2 billion), according to the report.

One major culprit for the industry`s vexing problem is excess capacity, a result of two rounds of vigorous investments in the industry since 2006 in response to the booming market. The inflow boosted the industry`s total annual capacity, including production facilities under construction, to an enormous 5 billion tons, with accumulated investments reaching upwards of 3 trillion yuan (US$490 billion).

The Chinese coal industry began to pick up in 2002, reaching its heyday between 2008-2012 as huge amounts of capital flooded into the sector. Coal output of Yulin, the foremost coal production site of Shaanxi province, jumped to 339 million tons in 2013, making it one of the corners, along with Ordos in Inner Mongolia and Shuozhou in Shanxi province, of China`s "golden triangle of coal."

The coal industry is now standing at a crossroads as firms puzzle over their next move. A consensus is for them to switch to coal chemical engineering, which involves a litany of thorny problems. The shift in enterprise would have to deal with huge capital investments, a cloudy outlook, foreign competition, and environmental pollution, complicated further by the current slump of global energy prices.

The nation`s coal capacity now stands at 4 billion tons a year, 300-400 million tons more than demand, with excess capacity expected to increase further following the completion of new facilities to add a combined 1.1 billion tons in total.

"Due to overcapacity, the nation`s coal stock has topped 300 million tons for more than 30 months in a row and it will be very difficult to cut the stock in the foreseeable future," said Lu Yaohua, vice chairman of China National Coal Association.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2015 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2015. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 17^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2015, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.

China`s 10 nonferrous metal output up 6.6% in Jan-Sep to 31.95 mln ton

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: China Knowledge  Date: October 31, 2014

The combined output of the ten nonferrous metals rose 6.6% year on year to 31.95 million tons in the first nine months of this year, according to the latest statistics released by the National Development and Reform Commission.
    
The output of aluminum electrolytic rose 7.8% year on year to 17.59 million tons in the nine-month period. The output of copper and alumina oxide see a growth of 11% and 4.8%, respectively.
    
The output of lead dropped 5.6% year on year in the period, and the output of zinc went up 4.6% from a year earlier in the first nine months.
    
In Sep 2014, the prices of major nonferrous metals reflect a decline from Aug 2014. The average prices of copper and zinc futures on the Shanghai Futures Exchange stood at RMB 50,139 and RMB 16,680 per ton, down 0.6% and 0.6% from a month earlier, respectively. The average price of aluminum was stood at RMB 14,478 per ton, up 3.7% from Aug or 0.9% from a year earlier.
    
In the first eight months of this year, China`s nonferrous industry realized RMB 105.6 billion in profit, 2.4% higher than in the same period of 2013.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2015 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2015. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 17^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2015, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.

China metals demand seen up in 2015, copper at least 6 pct

Source: www.chinamining.org  Citation: Reuters  Date: October 27, 2014

China`s consumption of refined copper is expected to rise at least 6 percent in 2015, roughly in line with this year, supported by new investment in power networks and demand from rail projects, analysts and industry executives said.
    
An expected slowdown in new residential and commercial building projects, however, could see an easing in consumption growth for aluminium and nickel in the world`s top metals consumer.
    
Lead demand growth may also be trimmed by lower production of electric bicycles, while tin demand should be supported by chemicals and tin-coated steel plates makers.
    
China is expected to complete power network orders from its 2014 power plan next year, as well begin a new investment plan for 2015, said a senior executive at a state-owned copper producer.
    
The power sector is the country`s top copper user. Investment in new power networks had been expected to rise more than 10 percent in 2014 fell 0.6 percent in the first half from a year earlier, raising expectations that more orders would be placed between the fourth quarter and early next year.
    
"In China, big (infrastructure) projects usually are started in the third year of a government. Next year is the third year to the current government," said the executive, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to talk to media.
    
Rail project orders for power cables and wires have risen since August and could stay strong next year, said a manager at a large end-user of refined copper, who put consumption growth at more than 7 percent next year.
    
This was above a forecast from state-back research firm Antaike, which put consumption growth at about 6 percent in 2015, compared to an expected 6.7 percent-rise to 8.75 million tonnes this year.
    
Growth could be capped by a fall in demand from air-conditioners makers next year after they raised the output in 2014, said Yang Changhua, senior analyst at state-backed research firm Antaike.
    
China`s still healthy demand rise could help copper prices on the London Metal Exchange, three industry sources said. A trader at a Chinese hedge fund expected the average LME copper price to rise 5 percent next year from 2014.
    
PROPERTY DRAG
    
New property projects, which typically consume copper, aluminium, zinc and nickel, are likely to slow next year, even though banks have relaxed lending to some house buyers in the past month, cutting existing stocks, metal industry sources said.
    
For aluminium, demand from transport and power transmission may rise next year, said an executive at a state-owned smelter said, who asked not to be named.
    
Overall consumption of primary aluminium is likely to rise 7-9 percent next year from about 10 percent expected in 2014, said the smelter executive and Wang Chunhui, analyst at information provider SMM, who put consumption at 27 million tonnes in 2014.
    
Production of primary aluminium may rise about 10 percent to 30-31 million tonnes next year due to new capacity. High output and lukewarm demand may boost exports of semi-finished products.
    
A drop-off in new property projects could also affect demand for zinc and nickel, which are used to coat some steel products for the building sector. Zinc is also widely used in infrastructure projects such as power networks and transport.
    
Antaike expects China`s refined tin demand to be flat this year, at just above 150,000 tonnes, and to rise slightly next year due to steady demand from chemicals and tin plated steel products used for packaging.
    
It expects China`s refined lead consumption to rise 4 percent to about 5.1 million tonnes in 2015 from the year before, compared with a 5-percent rise for 2014 as production of electric bicycles starts to drop after a rapid rise in the past few years.

About CHINA MINING

Since first held in 1999, the scope and influence of CHINA MINING has grown rapidly year by year. As a global mining summit forum and exhibition, CHINA MINING Congress and Expo has become one of the world’s top mining events, and one of the world’s largest mining exploration, development and trading platforms, covering all aspects of the whole mining industry chain, including geological survey, exploration and development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, smelting and processing, mining techniques and equipment, mining services, etc. playing an active promotion role in creating exchange opportunities and enhancing mutual cooperation between domestic and foreign mining enterprises.

CHINA MINING Congress and Expo 2015 will be held at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on November 20^th-23^rd, 2015. We invite you to join the event and to celebrate the 17^th anniversary of CHINA MINING with us.  For more information about CHINA MINING 2015, please visit: www.chinaminingtj.org.