CORPORATE NEWS
China's steel rebar prices set for weekly gain on infrastructure ... 
Fri 21st Sep 2018 08:06 GMT as Beijings stricter environmental rules boost the use of scrap steel. Mining giant Vale is looking at expanding its flagship iron ore project in Brazil, a company official said, hoping to cash [
full report]
Vale eyes expansion of Brazil iron ore mine to feed Chinese ... Fri 21st Sep 2018 05:09 GMT DALIAN, China Reuters - Mining giant Vale is looking at expanding its flagship iron ore project in Brazil, a company official said Poppinga said he expects almost 90 percent of Chinese steel cap [
full report]
Thyssenkrupp to keep on implementing steel JV with Tata ... Thu 20th Sep 2018 01:00 GMT DUISBURG, Germany Reuters - Thyssenkrupp's (DE:TKAG) interim chief executive dismissed speculation that it would pull out of its steel joint venture with India's Tata Steel (NS:TISC) in [
full report]
NCLAT wrongly allowed ArcelorMittal to pay dues after ... Thu 20th Sep 2018 01:00 GMT A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Indu Malhotra has been hearing the cross appeals of NuMetal and steel and mining major ArcelorMittal against the order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) [
full report]
Steel workers gear up for strike, potentially derailing ... Wed 19th Sep 2018 16:24 GMT It would follows another strike by 16,000 U.S. Steel workers that was approved earlier this month, and together, they could hinder what President Trump calls a "thriving" industry in the U.S [
full report]
Banks led by SBI had asked ArcelorMittal to clear dues ... Wed 19th Sep 2018 01:00 GMT SC had asked NuMetal to establish that there was subterfuge on part of rival ArcelorMittal in divesting its shares in two debt-ridden firms before bidding for Essar Steel [
full report]
Electrical Steel Market Report 2018 scrutinized in new ... Tue 18th Sep 2018 16:14 GMT TATA Steel, ArcelorMittal, Stalprodukt S.A., ATI, WISCO, TISCO, Baosteel, Shougang, Ansteel, Masteel , Benxi Steel Electrical Steel market research report provides the newest industry data and industr [
full report]
Brazil flat steel distributors notified of 5% price hike ... Tue 18th Sep 2018 15:03 GMT Sao Paulo Brazilian independent flat steel distributors and service centers have been notified of a 5% price hike for purchases from Usiminas and CSN, effective October 1, Carlos Loureiro, president [
full report]
INDUSTRY NEWS
Worlds largest Confucius statue gets final polish as ... Fri 21st Sep 2018 09:37 GMT Made of brass and reinforced with steel, the giant effigy stands 72 metres (236 feet which is headed by the Spring Temple Buddha in central Chinas Henan province, which stands 128 metres. Who was [
see news]
Chinese steel mills chase iron ore contracts with Brazil's ... Fri 21st Sep 2018 03:48 GMT China, the world's biggest consumer of the steelmaking ingredient, needs higher-quality, less polluting grades of iron ore as it battles to clear its notoriously smoggy skies.REUTERS September [
see news]
Press Release: Within the G20 framework, 33 countries ... Fri 21st Sep 2018 01:00 GMT The Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity Ministerial Meeting held in Paris today within the G20 framework concluded with a consensus report agreed by 33 member countries that includes initial conclusions on the revision process that will allow for the identification and removal of subsidies and support mechanisms that contribute to excess capacity [
see news]
China's top iron ore trading platform eyes record volumes ... Thu 20th Sep 2018 18:33 GMT The last record of 35.35 million tonnes was set in 2016. Despite production restrictions in many cities including top-producer Tangshan, Chinas overall steel output only slipped 1.1 percent in August [
see news]
Analyzing China Gerui Adv Mtals Grp (CHOPF) & Companhia ... Thu 20th Sep 2018 18:30 GMT It also explores for iron ore reserves at Casa de Pedra and Engenho mines located in the state of Minas Gerais; produces and sells cement; provides railroad and port logistics services; and generates [
see news]
US exempts Korean steel from import tariff Thu 20th Sep 2018 17:34 GMT The exclusion comes within a month after Trump agreed to selectively exempt steel products from Korea, Argentina and Brazil, alongside aluminum from Argentina. Instead of slapping its universal 25 per [
see news]
Gerdau Facing A Still-Challenging Brazil, But U.S. Margins ... Thu 20th Sep 2018 03:34 GMT These are still challenging days to be a steel producer in Brazil. Pushing through price increases takes some effort and patience, and demand is still being hamstrung by soft infrastructure [
see news]
Global Steel Scrap Industry : Detailed analysis of Jiuquan ... Thu 20th Sep 2018 01:17 GMT The Steel Scrap market revenue was xx.xx Million USD in 2013, grew to xx.xx Million USD in 2017, and will reach xx.xx Million USD in 2023, with a CAGR of x.x% during 2018-2023. Based on the Steel [
see news]
Global Galvanized Structure Steel Market 2018-2025 Arcelor ... Wed 19th Sep 2018 22:21 GMT Bohai Steel, Shougang Group, CSC, Valin Steel Market Segmented Based on Application Construction, Automobile, Home Appliances, Others Market Segmented Based on Type Electrical Galvanized Structure Ste [
see news]
SELECTED STEEL INDUSTRY MAPS
Middle East DRI plants
For other steel location maps, visit our steel industry maps page.
STEEL PLANT CAPITAL INVESTMENT COSTS
BOF SLAB PLANT
All cost estimates are in 2016 US dollars.
For further info visit our steel capex page.
Capital costs describe investment for an integrated slab plant with continuous casting, typically with coke, sinter etc. Representative investments include:
- CSA slab mill investment in Sepetiba, Brazil
- CSN investment in Itaguai, Brazil
- CVRD-Baosteel joint venture in Vitoria, Espirito Santo in Brazil
- Sinosteel Corporation's investment in Jharkand, India.
Average cost: $4300m
Average capacity: 4210 kt
Sample size: 12
Average cost/tonne: $1050/t
INTEGRATED HOT STRIP MILL
All cost estimates are in 2016 US dollars.
For further info visit our steel capex page.
Chart describes investments in ore-based integrated steel plants with hot strip production and sometimes other additional downstream rolling capability. Typical examples include:
- Wuhan Iron & Steel investment in Fangchengang Port in China
- ArcelorMittal investment in Karnataka, India
- Tata Steel joint venture with VSC & Vicem for investment in Vung Ang in Vietnam.
Average cost: $7560m
Average capacity: 6660 kt
Sample size: 16
Average cost/tonne: $1200/t
Notes
Analyses above were last updated in January 2016. For further item-specific capital investment data see our steel capex database page.
EMPLOYMENT BENCHMARKS
Chart above shows current employment levels at 114 different steel firms around the world - companies that make flat, long and/or tubular carbon steel products.
An average steel producer with a production potential of ~3 mt steel/year typically thus has ~4000 employees. If your steel company employs more than this, please call us - our technical experts can assist with steel plant productivity improvement.
To discuss the interpretation of this chart and/or further information (including employment benchmarks for specialty steel production) please email us at the address shown at the foot of the page.
INDUSTRY SUPPLY & DEMAND FORECASTS FOR YEARS 2017-2018
Table below shows global crude steel production volumes and capacity figures - as assessed by World Steel Association and by the OECD to 2018 - and resulting calculation of steelmaking capacity utilisation. The overall picture for 2018 as compared to 2017 is that of a tiny reduction in the global capacity surplus [which will fall from ~602mt to ~598mt] and a small but significant improvement in world capacity utilisation at the crude steel level.
Year
Production
million t
Capacity
million t
Capacity
Utilisation
Graph below shows the relationship between steel prices and global plant loading - and indicates (both for HRC and for rebar) that prices fall ~$27/tonne per 1% drop in capacity utilisation.
In 2017, on the basis that world capacity utilisation remains largely at 2016 levels of approx 67.4% (see table), MCI's consultants expect steel prices to remain at 2016 levels.
In 2018, assuming a very small improvement in global plant loading, we forecast just a tiny increase in steel price levels of the order of $5/tonne (hot rolled coil and reinforcing bar). For other products and / or for steel price forecasts through to 2020, please contact us.
OTHER USEFUL METAL INDUSTRY WEBSITES
Why not check out the following websites?
American Metal Market (AMM) at www.amm.com
Steel Guru at www.steelguru.com
SteelOrbis at www.steelorbis.com
Metal Bulletin at www.metalbulletin.com
