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Argentina sanctions glacier-protection reform
Argentina sanctions glacier-protection reform
Sao Paulo, 9 April (Argus) — Argentina's lower house has approved a wide-reaching reform to the country's glacier-protection law, which is expected to give a major boost to its copper industry. Argentina's lower house approved a reform that allows Argentinian provinces to decide which glaciers are important to their water resources and which are not. The "non-functional" glaciers would then be allowed to become mining sites, mostly benefiting copper mining. The approval was widely expected after the country's senate cleared the reform on 27 February. President Javier Milei strongly backed the reform, which ensured that his party and allies that usually side with the administration in big votes made up the necessary majority in both the Senate and in the lower house. The bill was approved late on 8 April by a 137-111 vote, with three abstentions. The bill needed 126 votes to pass. It is only a matter of time before Milei officially promulgates the law reform. The updated legislation is expected to be a major boost to Argentina's stagnant copper-mining industry , as several resources of the red metal are found within the glaciers' perimeters. The country's mining secretary released a report in early February forecasting that Argentina would account for 6.1pc of world' copper production by 2035 at over 1.5mn metric tonnes (t)/yr. This projection now becomes possible after the reform. Argentina's 20 most-advanced copper projects represent a combined $21.9bn in investment, and all are now positioned to significantly expand their resource bases as operators are permitted to work within glacier perimeters. Most of the country's copper reserves lie along the Andes mountain range on the border with Chile — an area that, on the Argentine side, is extensively glaciated. The reform, coupled with Argentina's intentions to bolster its incentive regime for large investments, could attract new foreign investment to the country's copper industry. Despite having 116mn t of copper resources, it was only able to export $4bn of the metal last year — while Chile, which is located on the other side of the Andes, sold $50bn, according to Milei. Javier Milei's office celebrated the approval, saying the reform eliminates "ideological distortions and artificial obstacles that hampered progress". His office had previously stated that the law, in its original form, allowed for misinterpretation that created legal uncertainty, curtailed investments and deprived provinces the right to regulate their natural resources. The original law, among other restrictions, forbade mineral exploration and extraction within the glaciers' perimeters, which was then set by the Argentinian institute of nivology, glaciology and environmental sciences (IANIGLA) based on unclear criteria, Milei said on 14 November. Major backlash ensues Changes to the glacier-protection law have caused a major backlash from political adversaries of Milei and the general public in Argentina. Greenpeace activists carried out peaceful protests in front of the lower house building, in Buenos Aires, and clashed with the police. Congress members, lawmakers and environmental organizations that oppose the reform all agree that easing the protection of glaciers could threaten Argentina's water security. Greenpeace said during the 8 April protests that this would be opening a path to destroy most of Argentina's glacial environment, putting the country's water security at risk. The glaciers' meltwater regulates rivers all across the country and serves as the primary feedstock for several agricultural projects. "We demand that this reform does not move forward, as it puts Argentina's main drinking water reserves at risk," Greenpeace said in a statement. Nevertheless, the reform was approved, and its supporters insist that no province will permit glaciers vital to the nation's water resources to be turned into mining sites, which remains to be seen. By Pedro Consoli Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
South Korea's Kia cuts 2030 EV sales target
South Korea's Kia cuts 2030 EV sales target
Singapore, 9 April (Argus) — South Korean major automaker Kia has slashed its 2030 annual battery electric vehicle (EV) sales target to 1mn units, after cutting the target to 1.26mn in 2025 while expanding hybrid lineups. The company is lowering its EV sales target and expanding its internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid models considering the speed of the electrification transition, it said on 9 April. The carmaker previously targeted a relatively ambitious 1.6mn units/yr of EV sales, which was announced in 2024 . Kia plans to launch up to nine new ICE models and operate 13 hybrid models in 2030. It aims to sell 3.35mn car units in 2026, including 691,000 hybrids and 400,000 EVs, which would mark around 7pc of year-on-year sales growth. It has also set a global target of 4.13mn units/yr in 2030, comprised of 1.98mn ICE cars, 1.15mn hybrids and the remainder being EVs. Kia's factories in South Korea, China, India and Mexico will supply ICE and hybrid cars to meet corresponding expanding demand in emerging markets, said Kia. But it also plans to further localise EV production strategies in response to market demand and policies in certain regions, such as producing EV2 and EV4 models in Europe, EV6 and EV9 in the stagnating US, as well as the Syros and Carens EV models in India. Growing European and ex-China Asian demand partially offset a rocky start to the global EV market this year, given slower Chinese and US demand owing to policy changes in China and the US , according to South Korean consultancy firm SNE Research. Global EV deliveries came in at 2.28mn units in January-February, down by 7pc compared with the same period a year earlier, with EV receipts for China and the US falling by 23pc and 30pc, respectively. But a resurgence in the push for electrification following the Middle East war has since prompted at least southeast Asian countries to back a swifter EV transition. Global EV demand will see a "dramatic recovery" this year given oil price uncertainties, accelerating the EV penetration rate by 9 percentage points by 2030, according to SNE Research. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan’s scrap export tender hits 3‑year high in April
Japan’s scrap export tender hits 3‑year high in April
Shanghai, 9 April (Argus) — The Japanese scrap dealer cooperative Kanto Tetsugen export tender continued its strong upward momentum in April, reaching its highest level since March 2023. A total of 10,000t of H2 scrap was awarded at ¥54,329/t ($342/t) free alongside ship (fas) today, up by ¥4,208/t from March, Kanto Tetsugen said. This is equivalent to ¥55,329/t ($348.5/t) on an fob basis. The tender cargo is likely to be shipped to Bangladesh again, market participants indicated, combined shipment with shindachi cargoes to optimize freight costs. The seaborne market was surprised by the tender result as it was far above expectations. Prior to the tender, most overseas buyers were targeting below ¥52,000/t fob for H2, even as available offers remained limited. In the domestic market, H2 prices were around ¥51,000-52,000/t, while dockside collection prices stood at ¥51,000-51,500/t fas. Traders are now watching how much Tokyo Steel will raise its domestic purchase prices in response to the sharply higher tender outcome. Most Japanese traders expect the tender result to drive export offers higher, although it remains uncertain whether overseas buyers can match these levels. "Export negotiations will become increasingly difficult due to the widening price gap," a Japanese trader said. The Argus daily assessment for H2 scrap fob Japan stood at ¥51,300/t on 8 April, compared with a March monthly average of ¥48,950/t fob. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Recent deep-sea and short-sea cfr Turkey scrap deals
Recent deep-sea and short-sea cfr Turkey scrap deals
London, 8 April (Argus) — A summary of the most recent deep-sea and short-sea cfr Turkey ferrous scrap deals seen by Argus. Ferrous scrap short-sea trades (average composition price, cif Marmara) Date Volume, t Price, $ Shipment Buyer Seller Composition Index relevant 7-Apr 3,000 380 (80:20) April Samsun Bulgaria HMS 1/2 80:20 Y Ferrous scrap deep-sea trades (average composition price, cfr Turkey) Date Volume, t Price, $ Shipment Buyer Seller Composition Index relevant 2-Apr 35,000 400 (80:20) May Iskenderun USA HMS #1, P&S, shred Y 2-Apr 35,000 400 (80:20) May Izmir Cont.Europe HMS 1/2 75:25, P&S, shred Y 31-Mar 50,000 402 (80:20) May Marmara Canada HMS 1/2 95:5, P&S, shred Y Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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