Nov 28
One of the largest markets for industrial minerals, refractories are essential for producing steel, glass, ceramics, cement and lime and for many other processes requiring high temperatures. But as Richard Flook* explains, despite their crucial role, manufacturers of these products are facing significant challenges from changing global trends. The refractories industry is estimated to currently …
Nov 20
Turbulence continues in the Chinese magnesia markets with prices of dead burned magnesia following fused magnesia upwards. Contacts in and outside of China have confirmed to IM that dead burned magnesia (DBM) prices have stated to rise in recent weeks following the trajectory first seen in fused magnesia (FM) due to supply constraints amid a …
Nov 13
Demand for refractory products is evolving, forcing suppliers to upgrade their offers and processes to stay ahead of the game, while Chinese-origin raw materials are appreciating on the back of supply shortages, making productions costlier, Davide Ghilotti, IM Chief Reporter, finds. The refractory industry has come to find itself between a rock and a hard …
Nov 06
MagMin conference delegates heard from the Chinese government that the severe supply squeeze that has hit the sector will not last long but no timescale can be given. The magnesia supply shortage in China is not expected to remain for long but is unclear when production will normalise, Chinese government official told delegates during the …
