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Failing cities stymie South African bid to revive growth

By: Bloomberg 14th November 2019 South African municipalities’ inability to provide consistent power is exacerbating supply disruptions by the debt-stricken state electricity utility, hobbling efforts to revive the nation’s economy. While State-owned Eskom Holdings has subjected the country to controlled, timed blackouts... →

Mergence acquires controlling stake in Lasercraft

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th November 2019 Laser cutting company Lasercraft has completed a shareholder transaction with black-owned Mergence Group, enabling the company to obtain a Level 2 black economic empowerment rating. The transaction will provide the necessary capital for Lasercraft to continually invest in metal laser cutting,... →

Anglo upbeat on bulk commodities performance; Kumba cuts sales guidance

By: Simone Liedtke 12th November 2019 Following ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA’s) decision to wind down its steel operations at Saldanha Works, in the Western Cape, Kumba Iron Ore has reduced its iron-ore sales guidance for the full year to between 41.5-million and 42.5-million tonnes. Initial guidance was set at between... →

Inaugural Africa wire, cable and tube conference gets under way in Jhb

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 12th November 2019 Research and consulting company CRU and the Southern Africa–German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK), along with global trade shows, Wire & Tube as lead sponsor, on Monday kicked off the inaugural Africa Wire, Cable & Tube Conference, which is being held until November 13 in Johannesburg.... →

CRU Wire and Cable head Michael Finch details the conference, and speaks briefly about the markets

Patel suggests AMSA sell Saldanha plant to avoid loss of industrial capacity

By: Marleny Arnoldi 12th November 2019 The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) has expressed its disappointment at the decision by steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) to retrench nearly 1 000 workers across the company and to put its Saldanha Works plant on care and maintenance. This followed after AMSA... →

Iron-ore output to show modest growth to 2028 – Fitch Solutions

By: Marleny Arnoldi 12th November 2019 Mine expansions in Brazil and increasing output from India, offset by declining output in China, will result in modest growth for global iron-ore production up to 2028, said research agency Fitch Solutions. Fitch Solutions on Tuesday published its global iron-ore mining outlook, stating that... →

AMSA to put Saldanha Works on care and maintenance

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 11th November 2019 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has decided to undertake an orderly and commercial wind-down of steel operations at its Saldanha Works, with the intent to place the operation on care and maintenance. This follows the completion of the first phase of a review of the operational... →

AMSA's liquid steel production down 18% in September quarter

By: Creamer Media Reporter 7th November 2019 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa's (AMSA's) liquid steel production decreased by 18.2% year-on-year to 1.06-million tonnes in the quarter ended September 30, mainly as a result of planned production curtailments to adjust volumes to lower demand. AMSA's capacity utilisation was 65% in... →

Coca-Cola chooses plastic bottle collection over aluminium cans to cut carbon footprint

By: Reuters 7th November 2019 Coca-Cola is committed to collecting and recycling plastic bottles rather than switching to aluminium cans as the world's largest soft drinks maker seeks to reduce its carbon footprint, its chief executive officer told Reuters. Along with multinational rivals including PepsiCo and Nestle,... →

EU argues case against Trump's metal tariffs at WTO

By: Reuters 5th November 2019 The European Union argued on Monday for the withdrawal of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on metal imports in one of the most high-profile and potentially explosive cases to come to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Trump set duties in 2018 of 25% on incoming steel and 10% on... →

Antiplastic trend raising aluminium demand – Novelis

By: Reuters 1st November 2019 Moves to reduce plastic packaging to protect the environment are starting to increase demand for aluminium packaging, the European head of Novelis, the world's largest producer of rolled aluminium products, said. Aluminium demand will also be underpinned by a trend towards more electrically... →

MSI launches welders' recruitment programme to boost job creation

By: Yvonne Silaule 30th October 2019 The Mpumalanga Stainless Initiative (MSI) and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) have launched the Mpumalanga Informal Welders Recruitment Programme. MSI CEO Victor Mashego says the programme will assist welders in rural areas and townships gain access to the market and grow their... →

Global steel output falls 0.3% y/y in September

By: Marleny Arnoldi 25th October 2019 World crude steel production decreased by 0.3% year-on-year to 151.5-million tonnes in September, the World Steel Association (worldsteel) reports. However, year-to-date production to September was up 3.9% year-on-year to 1.3-billion tonnes. →

Metals sector in costly battle to turn green

By: Reuters 25th October 2019 Metals producers, from miners to smelters, are grappling with increasingly tough and costly environmental demands imposed by banks seeking cleaner investments. While the transition may prove overwhelming for smaller producers, larger companies are playing a long game, casting ahead to a period... →

Mining, metals companies partner with WEF on responsible sourcing

By: Marleny Arnoldi 25th October 2019 Seven mining and metals companies have partnered with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to support the responsible sourcing of raw materials using blockchain technology. The Mining and Metals Blockchain Initiative was founded by diversified miners Antofagasta Minerals, Eurasian Resources Group... →

Correct use of consumables makes a good weld

By: Halima Frost 25th October 2019 Branded welding supplier Unique Welding has significantly upgraded its range of stainless steel consumables to improve weld performance to combat a market flooded with low-quality imported stainless steel welding consumables, Unique Welding CEO Nazmi Adams tells Engineering News. In addition,... →

IMPORTANT ROLE The welding of stainless steel can be successfully achieved if the welder adheres to the industry rules and standards

Medium-term investment buoying stainless steel industry

By: Halima Frost 25th October 2019 Despite a marked downturn in the global stainless steel industry, there are a few medium-term developments on the horizon for Southern Africa, notes research institute Afriforesight Commodities chief commodity economist Nathan Musson. “There are glimmers of hope in terms of investment in Southern... →

SPARKING INTEREST The stainless steel albeit somewhat stagnant offers a few sparks of investment interest

New membership structure set for stainless steel sector

By: Halima Frost 25th October 2019 The Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda) is at a turning point in its history as it gears up for the future with the introduction of a new tiered membership model that will launch in March 2020, says Sassda acting executive director Michel Basson. As opposed to a... →

HOT TOPIC The restructuring of Sassda’s membership model aligns each member based on individual needs

Trio makes for steely supply

By: Halima Frost 25th October 2019 Three of South Africa’s most prominent companies in the stainless steel supply chain are completing a substantial supply to a gold mine in the Southern African Development Community. The project entails the supply of 250 t of grade 2304 stainless steel for the manufacture of ten tanks – the... →

RECOIL The knock-on effects of local supply were seen across the project in costs and time saved

SA exporting jobs and importing goods, Lasher Tools warns

By: Schalk Burger 25th October 2019 Human capital is the cornerstone of any successful commercial venture and is the foundation of economies, but South Africa must insist on fairness and parity of imports to ensure that local businesses are not lost to cheaper and lower quality imports, says local tools maker Lasher Tools marketing... →

Labour department to host iron, steel indaba

By: African News Agency 23rd October 2019 The Department of Employment and Labour said on Wednesday it would this week host an iron and steel forum in Durban to reflect on the progress made since the signing of an accord on occupational health and safety in 2013. In a statement, it said the meeting would focus on regulations and... →

Kumba lowers full-year sales guidance as sales to AMSA fall

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 22nd October 2019 Lower iron-ore sales to steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) in the third quarter has prompted Kumba Iron Ore to lower its full-year sales guidance to between 42-million and 43-million tonnes of iron-ore, compared with the previously expected 43-million to 44-million tonnes. The... →

French cement company sells promise of greener future in IPO

By: Bloomberg 21st October 2019 A tiny French cement company sold shares on the Paris exchange with a big promise: to shake up global production and reduce carbon emissions. Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies pitched to investors a “disruptive” manufacturing process based on changing the composition of cement so that it no... →

Plastic bottles vs aluminium cans: who'll win the global water fight?

By: Reuters 17th October 2019 Global bottled water giants are ramping up trials of easily recyclable aluminium cans to replace plastic that pollutes the world's seas. Sound like a slam-dunk for the environment? Not entirely. Aluminium cans might indeed mean less ocean waste, but they come with their own eco-price: the... →

Despite headwinds, global steel demand continues to grow

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 15th October 2019 Global steel demand will grow by 3.9% to 1.78-million tonnes this year and by 1.7% to 1.81-million tonnes in 2020, the World Steel Association (worldsteel) estimates in its latest Short Range Outlook (SRO). “The current SRO suggests that global steel demand will continue to grow this year, more... →

2019 Steel Awards showcases greater diversity

By: Simone Liedtke 11th October 2019 The South African Institute of Steel Construction (Saisc) Steel Awards attracted not only a record number of entries and sponsors this year, but also greater diversity, CEO Paolo Trinchero says. He points out that this year’s entries encompass a wider range of stakeholders in the greater built... →

China's Chalco delays Boffa bauxite mine launch to 2020

By: Reuters 10th October 2019 Aluminum Corp of China, also known as Chalco, has delayed the launch of its Boffa bauxite project in Guinea until at least the first quarter of 2020, a company official said on Thursday. Construction on the project, expected to produce 12-million tonnes of the aluminium ore a year, would be... →

Incoming top EU climate official pledges to tax polluting imports

By: Reuters 9th October 2019 The European Union (EU) will start work immediately on a tax on polluting foreign firms to shelter EU businesses striving to meet a goal to be climate neutral by 2050, the senior official set to take responsibility for climate in the new European Commission said on Tuesday. Frans Timmermans, who... →

Insimbi achieves decent interim growth

By: Simone Liedtke 8th October 2019 Despite a challenging local and global economic environment, metals supplier Insimbi on Tuesday reported an 11% increase in its headline earnings a share from R8.47 to R9.42, while earnings a share saw a 4% increase from R9.12 to R9.48, for the six months ended August 31, 2019. Revenue for the... →

Japan Oct-Dec crude steel output forecast to slip

By: Reuters 8th October 2019 Japan's output of crude steel in the October-December quarter is forecast to fall 0.1% from a year earlier as trade tensions and uncertainty over China's economy curb exports, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) said on Tuesday. Crude steel output is estimated at 25.69 million... →

Outlook for wind energy in SA improving, despite headwinds

By: Terence Creamer 4th October 2019 After stalling last year, global renewable energy capacity additions are expected to recover strongly in 2019, supported by a solid rebound in onshore wind deployments and ongoing solar photovoltaic (PV) growth. The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects almost 200 GW of renewables capacity to... →

Robor goes into liquidation

By: Creamer Media Reporter 2nd October 2019 Steel tube and pipe manufacturer Robor has been placed into voluntary liquidation. Investment holding company Tiso Blackstar, which owns 47.61% of Robor, on Wednesday reported that the decline of the South African economy over the past three years, the margin-eroding effect of cheaper Chinese... →

If the health system is corruptible, we all suffer – Ramaphosa

By: Sane Dhlamini 1st October 2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday said if South Africa’s health care system is marred with unauthorised expenditure, the entire country would suffer the consequences. Ramaphosa was speaking at the launch of the Health Sector Anti-Corruption Forum, which is expected to fight the scourge of... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

WTO slashes forecast for trade growth as conflicts mount

By: Reuters 1st October 2019 The World Trade Organization (WTO) cut its forecast for growth in global trade this year by more than half on Tuesday and said further rounds of tariffs and retaliation, a slowing economy and a disorderly Brexit could squeeze it even more. The WTO said it now expected global merchandise trade to... →

Photo by Reuters
WTO director-general Roberto Azevedo

Transnet reports dramatic rise in irregular expenditure to R49bn

By: Terence Creamer 30th September 2019 State-owned freight logistics utility Transnet received yet another qualified audit for its 2018/19 financial year and also announced a dramatic rise in irregular expenditure to R49-billion, after locomotive contracts valued at R41.5-billion where added to the figure, which stood at R8-billion at... →

Transnet acting CEO Mohammed Mahomedy outlines the reason for the group receiving yet another qualified audit during the 2018/19 financial year, as well as the dramatic rise in irregular expenditure to R49-billion. Camerawork and editing: Darlene Creamer 30.9.2019

Extrusion press concept for aluminium sector developed

By: Halima Frost 27th September 2019 As a global service partner for clients, metallurgical industry plant and integrated systems provider, SMS group has developed a concept for extrusion presses offering significant flexibility and efficiency for the steel and aluminium industries. “SMS group service technicians are specifically... →

KEEP ROLLING ROLLING ROLLING A cold rolling production line supplied to an international client by SMS group

Demand growth continues to outweigh production growth

27th September 2019 Last month, macroeconomic researcher Fitch Solutions – a unit of the Fitch Group –reported that the global aluminum market will see a number of deficits over the coming years as solid demand growth, driven by the construction and autos sectors, outpaces production growth. Notably, the global... →

BUILDING SPEED The construction and automotive sectors have seen solid demand growth which has outpaced production growth

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