New Zealand advances electric arc furnace steel plant

Spanish Market: Metals
18/03/26

New Zealand's government has fast-tracked the development of National Green Steel Limited's planned steel recycling plant in Waikato, which will process scrap steel into structural steel using electric arc furnace (EAF) technology.

Producer National Green Steel plans to process 200,000 t/yr of recycled steel into structural steel, New Zealand's resources minister Shane Jones said on 18 March.

The company's proposal includes a scrap-steel shredding plant, EAF, and a solar farm to power the facility, according to its fast-track application. New Zealand's fast-track process streamlines approvals for regionally or nationally significant projects by consolidating multiple processes.

National Green Steel is not the only producer working on EAF projects in New Zealand. BlueScope-owned producer New Zealand Steel is developing an EAF at its Glenbrook mill and Global recycler Sims has agreed to supply the producer with at least 200,000 t/yr of ferrous scrap to support the project.

By Avinash Govind

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17/03/26

UK steel decoilers bracing for 50pc quota cut

London, 17 March (Argus) — The UK's steel market is bracing itself for a halving of tariff-rate quotas, service centres told Argus today. The department of business and trade is leaning towards quota cuts of up to 50pc, with a 50pc out-of-quota tariff, but will drop the cap on residual quotas and may reintroduce the carryover of unused quota, service centre sources said. The department is also considering introducing a shipping clause, because of potential disruption to shipments caused by the US-Iran war. A halving of hot-rolled coil (HRC) quotas would lead to a shortfall of around 488,000 t/yr, compared with current annual quotas, according to Argus calculations. The drop in hot-dip galvanised (HDG) would be even more pronounced, with a shortfall of around 915,000 t/yr, assuming a 50pc cut. The removal of the residual cap on HDG would likely lead to a large number of tonnes coming from South Korea, a flow which is dominated mainly by two traders, and Vietnam. The new safeguard regime will likely be announced by the business minister at Tata Steel's Port Talbot site on 19 March. The UK market has firmed markedly in the past two weeks, after seriously lagging European prices, since Tata Steel hiked its offer by £125/t . Replacement costs for European and domestic HRC are now £650/t ddp or above, according to service centres, while sheet prices have rocketed from lows of around £550/t to over £700/t in some cases. Local producer Tata Steel is likely to add another £20-25/t to its prices immediately, because of increased shipping and costs, and is eyeing another jump of around £100/t for July, sources said. By Colin Richardson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Australia eyes record lithium exports after disruptions

17/03/26

Australia eyes record lithium exports after disruptions

Singapore, 17 March (Argus) — Australia's lithium loadings are on track to hit a record high in March after cyclone disruptions curbed February exports, according to data compiled by Argus . Australian ports are expected to load about 631,000t of lithium this month, with China typically taking the vast majority of Australian spodumene, according to vessel tracking firm Kpler's data compiled by Argus . Tropical cyclone Mitchell halted exports at some ports in Western Australia in early February, including Port Hedland, where Australian lithium producers Mineral Resources and PLS ship some of their spodumene. Vessel delays extended into March, contributing to the higher loading figure, said an Australian spodumene source. Australia's Bunbury port expects to load about 328,200t of lithium this month, with loading also expected at Geraldton port — near lithium miner Liontown's Kathleen Valley project — later this month after no shipments in February. A lithium concentrates export ban by Zimbabwe in late-February drove Chinese lithium salt prices higher before they later eased, and some market participants remain cautious about the potential impact of the ban. The market is still underestimating the risks caused by the ban, a Chinese lithium trading source told Argus . Zimbabwe's mines ministry ordered regulators to block every shipment — even those already in transit. Only mining firms with mining rights and working beneficiation plants will be allowed to export processed material, said the ministry. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Bahrain Al producer cuts operations on supply shortage

16/03/26

Bahrain Al producer cuts operations on supply shortage

Singapore, 16 March (Argus) — Bahrain-based smelter Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has initiated a controlled shutdown, idling about 300,000 t/yr of capacity in response to supply constraints caused by shipping delays through the strait of Hormuz. The shutdown of reduction lines 1–3 temporarily idles about 19pc of total output capacity , the firm said on 15 March. The smelter has a total nameplate capacity of 1.6mn t/yr. Alba will concentrate raw materials on lines 4–6, which remain fully operational, to preserve output stability while managing inventories on the back of supply-chain volatility. The company declared force majeure on its aluminium deliveries on 4 March because disruption on the strait of Hormuz hindered both outbound metal shipments and inbound alumina supply. The disruption has already prompted other Gulf smelters, including Qatalum , to reduce operations. By Candice Luo Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US picks 60 trade partners for tariff action

13/03/26

US picks 60 trade partners for tariff action

Washington, 13 March (Argus) — President Donald Trump's administration has selected 60 of the US' largest trading partners to target with new import taxes that will replicate the tariffs invalidated by the Supreme Court last month. The US Trade Representative's office (USTR) late on Thursday announced an investigation into 59 countries and the EU, alleging that these jurisdictions have not been diligent in banning imports of products produced by forced labor in third countries. "Despite the international consensus against forced labor, governments have failed to impose and effectively enforce measures banning goods produced with forced labor from entering their markets," USTR chief Jamieson Greer said. USTR is citing its legal authority under Section 301 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1974, which allows targeting a foreign trade partner for unfair practices. USTR already has launched a separate investigation into 12 of those 60 foreign jurisdictions. Collectively, all major US trading partners would be liable for high tariffs once the USTR completes these investigations in May. The list includes Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the EU, Norway, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia. All those jurisdictions have been subject to emergency tariffs of 15pc and higher since last April. The US Supreme Court struck down those tariffs on 20 February. The US administration on the same day, citing separate authority under Section 122, imposed a 10pc tariff on all US imports. But those tariffs will only be in effect until 24 July. USTR is aiming to have the new Section 301 tariffs in place by that deadline. The Section 301 process does not affect existing tariffs on steel, aluminum, cars and auto parts. Trump and previous presidents routinely used Section 301 authority to address specific trade complaints, so the legal authority has not been challenged in court before. But a mass trade action simultaneously targeting dozens of countries in an effort to reverse-engineer invalidated tariffs may invite legal challenges. "It won't surprise anyone that once again Trump is refusing to accept the reality of his loss and is desperately back at the drawing board trying to find any pretext he can to reclaim power the Supreme Court rightfully said he doesn't have," House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee ranking member Richard Neal (D-Massachusetts) said on Thursday. On Friday, a coalition of dozens of states, including Oregon, asked a federal court to suspend collection of the Section 122 tariffs while a lawsuit against those temporary tariffs proceeds. Those states point to lengthy delays in obtaining refunds to the tariffs the Supreme Court struck down. "It is likely impossible for plaintiff states to be made fully whole for the economic harm suffered each day that the unlawful Section 122 tariffs are in place," the states wrote in their legal filing. By Haik Gugarats and Chris Knight Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US economy slows sharply in 4Q: BEA

13/03/26

US economy slows sharply in 4Q: BEA

Houston, 13 March (Argus) — The US economy grew at a revised 0.7pc annual rate in the fourth quarter, half the pace originally reported because of downward revisions in government spending and exports, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported today. Growth in gross domestic product (GDP) was revised lower from an initial estimate of 1.4pc, according to the bureau's second of three estimates for the quarter released Friday. Real final sales to private domestic purchasers, comprising consumer spending and private fixed investment, increased by 1.9pc in the fourth quarter, revised down from 2.4pc in the 20 February estimate. The personal consumption expenditure (PCE) price index, a measure of inflation, was unchanged at 2.9pc. The second report on GDP, originally scheduled for 26 February, was delayed because of a federal government shutdown in October-November. With the latest revisions, GDP grew at a slower 2.1pc rate in 2025, down from an originally reported 2.2pc. It contracted by 0.6pc in the first quarter, and grew by 3.8pc in the second quarter and by 4.4pc in the third quarter 2025. GDP grew by 2.9pc in 2023 and by 2.8pc in 2024. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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