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Thursday, January 21, 2010
Today's News Headlines
* Lead, zinc markets in surplus in Jan-Nov, says ILZSG - Regional
* Primary aluminum production down 7.5% in 2009, says Abal - Brazil
* Govt signs agreement to clean up environmental damage in Río Negro - Argentina
* Vale rehiring workers on favorable 2010 outlook - reports - Brazil
* Canacero expects steel industry to grow 13.7% in 2010 - Mexico
* Government to investigate alleged steel dumping - Colombia
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* Lead, zinc markets in surplus in Jan-Nov, says ILZSG - Regional
The global lead and zinc markets were in surplus in the first 11 months of 2009 as production of the former exceeded demand by 58,000t while the latter showed an excess of 424,000t, according to the latest report by the Lisbon-based International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG).
During the period global lead mine production rose 1.7% to 3.63Mt from 3.57Mt year-on-year, mainly due to increases from Bolivia, China, Mexico and the Russian Federation which offset lower output in Australia, Canada and Peru.
World refined lead production increased 2% to 8.06Mt from 7.90Mt in January-November 2008 primarily due to a 16.9% increase in Chinese output.
Overall world demand for refined lead increased 1.1% to 8.00Mt from 7.92Mt, despite a drop in usage in most countries, mainly as a result of a 22% increase in China's apparent usage, ILZSG reported.
Although Chinese demand for refined zinc increased 16.9% in the period, global usage declined 7.1% to 9.83Mt from 10.6Mt year-on-year due to lower demand in most countries.
World zinc mine production fell 3.6% to 10.3Mt from 10.7Mt year-on-year despite November's monthly output being the highest since the beginning of 2009, according ILZSG's report.
Refined zinc output fell 4.1% to 10.3Mt from 10.7Mt as increases in Australia, China and India failed to offset declines in Brazil, Canada, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Peru and the US.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* Primary aluminum production down 7.5% in 2009, says Abal - Brazil
Brazilian primary aluminum production declined 7.5% in 2009 to some 1.54Mt from 1.66Mt in 2008, aluminum association Abal said in a press release.
In December, production totaled 128,600t, down 7% year-on-year, the release said.
CBA, owned by Brazil's Grupo Votorantim, was the leading producer in 2009 with output of 471,300t, a 1.2% increase on the previous year.
Albras ranked second as its output totaled 454,300t, down 1.1%. The company is owned by local mining giant Vale (NYSE: VALE) and a 17-company Japanese consortium.
Pittsburgh-based Alcoa (NYSE: AA) was the third leading producer with output of 325,800t, a 12.1% drop compared to 2008.
BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) produced 173,500t, down 4%, while Atlanta-based Novelis' (NYSE: NVL) output increased 1% to 100,200t, according to Abal.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* Govt signs agreement to clean up environmental damage in Río Negro - Argentina
Argentina's mining ministry and mining authorities in Río Negro province have signed an agreement to clean up environmental damage caused by a former lead smelting facility in the town of San Antonio Oeste.
The agreement, which calls for an investment of around US$3.6mn, was signed as part of an environmental management plan the ministry is promoting, according to a mining ministry statement.
The cleanup of damage caused by the smelter, which was closed more than 40 years ago, will start in February, the statement said.
The project will be carried out in two stages. First damage will be assessed and a cleanup plan designed, and then the plan will be put into action, the ministry added.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* Vale rehiring workers on favorable 2010 outlook - reports - Brazil
Brazilian mining giant Vale (NYSE: VALE) has begun to rehire workers that had been laid off during the global economic crisis, given improved international iron ore demand, local press reported.
Vale, the world's largest iron ore producer, laid off roughly 2,000 workers during the crisis and was forced to cut production in Brazil and abroad.
Approximately 300 workers were hired at the end of 2009, as activities resumed at some of its mines and pellet plants that had been stopped, news service Agência Estado reported company officials as saying.
In addition, "thousands" of other positions are expected to be reopened this year, according to paper O Estado de S Paulo.
Vale at the end of 2009 announced a capex budget worth some US$13bn for this year.
According to Vale ferrous minerals executive director José Carlos Martins, the company expects sales to reach 300Mt in 2010, a volume close to its installed capacity of 310Mt.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* Canacero expects steel industry to grow 13.7% in 2010 - Mexico
Mexican steel chamber Canacero expects production this year to increase some 13.7% compared to 2009.
Canacero head Octavio Rangel made the announcement during the 15th annual Mexican steel conference held in Monterrey.
According to Rangel, the increase would put total production at some 15.5Mt, local press reported.
He also said that chamber partners would be moving forward with their investment plans for the year.
"We expect to see a 2.6% increase in construction, 7.6% in domestic appliance [production] and 7.8% in automobiles," he added, emphasizing that in 2010 as much as 70% of installed capacity would be used.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* Government to investigate alleged steel dumping - Colombia
Colombia's trade, industry and tourism ministry (Mincomercio) is prepared to open up an investigation into cases of alleged dumping by Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela that domestic steel producers requested in December, local paper La República reported.
According to sector data, dumped imports have damaged national sales. When 2009's apparent first half consumption is compared to the half yearly average over the previous two years, dumped imports prove to be up by 24% and sales by Colombian companies down 18%, the report said.
The investigation was requested by a group of sector companies, led by Acerías Paz del Río (APR) and Diaco, in hopes that Mincomercio will move to enact measures to protect the sector.
According to Colombian steelmakers, the products being dumped include wire rods, bars and plates.
In December APR, controlled by Brazil's Votorantim Metais, said it aimed to take legal action against low-priced steel products flooding into Colombia from these countries.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
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In-deph interview
* A brighter year ahead for São Paulo scrap processors
Valentin Aparicio Escamilla
President
Sindinesfa
Brazil
http://www.bnamericas.com/interviews/metals/Valentin_Aparicio_Escamilla_,Sindinesfa,/170884471
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Main companies covered in today's news
* Aceros del Paraguay S.A.
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/Aceros_del_Paraguay_S,A,-Acepar/170884471
* Cámara Nacional de la Industria del Hierro y el Acero
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/Camara_Nacional_de_la_Industria_del_Hierro_y_el_Acero-Canacero/170884471
* GalvaSud S.A.
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/GalvaSud_S,A,-GalvaSud/170884471
* Barclays PLC
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/Barclays_PLC-Barclays/170884471
* Instituto Latinoamericano del Fierro y el Acero
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/Instituto_Latinoamericano_del_Fierro_y_el_Acero-ILAFA/170884471
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