Steel raw materials
Overview
Argus’ comprehensive coverage of the global ferrous markets provide independent price assessments, news and market analysis for iron ore, coking coal, ferrous scrap, pig iron and steel.
Our global team of experts in China, Singapore, the UK and US deliver over 300 domestic and seaborne price assessments along with detailed market commentary on a daily basis to ensure our clients have complete mine to mill price coverage.
The ferrous portfolio includes established Argus price indices for 62pc and 65pc iron ore fines, Turkish ferrous scrap imports, and our fob Australia and cfr China premium hard coking coal indices.
Latest steel raw materials news
Browse the latest market moving news on the steel raw materials industry
UK High Court rules Cumbria coal mine permit unlawful
UK High Court rules Cumbria coal mine permit unlawful
London, 13 September (Argus) — The UK's High Court has quashed planning permission granted in 2022 for a coal mine in Cumbria, northwest England, ruling the approval was unlawful. The court judgment found the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that would result if the coal was burned — known as scope 3 emissions — were not properly considered during the planning process. The proposed mine's developer, West Cumbria Mining, said it would produce a "net zero coal product", using methane capture and abatement, renewable power, "tree planting… and offset of minor residual emissions". But the judgment found the secretary of state at the time, Michael Gove, acted unlawfully in accepting that claim. The UK's Climate Change Act does not allow reliance on international offsets to meet the country's legally-binding carbon budgets. The then-Conservative UK government granted permission for the mine — set to produce metallurgical coal, used in steel production — in December 2022 to West Cumbria Mining. Environmental groups Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change sought a judicial review, a challenge to the way in which a decision has been made by a public body, focusing on the procedures followed rather than the conclusion reached. The UK's Labour government, elected in July, said it would not defend the planning decision in court. The government will now have to reconsider the planning application, taking into account the "full climate impact", Friends of the Earth said. "West Cumbria Mining will consider the implications of the High Court judgement and has no comment to make at this time", the company told Argus . Today's ruling referenced a landmark June judgment from the UK's Supreme Court, which found that Surrey County Council's decision to permit an oil development was "unlawful because the end use atmospheric emissions from burning the extracted oil were not assessed as part of the environmental impact assessment". The outcome has prompted the UK government to develop new environmental guidance for oil and gas firms . By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
British Steel Scunthorpe rolling may stop if BF closes
British Steel Scunthorpe rolling may stop if BF closes
London, 13 September (Argus) — British Steel's Scunthorpe rolling mills may not be able to continue operating if the last blast furnace (BF) closes. The rolling lines are powered by gas captured from the BF process. Recent furnace stability problems and the subsequent lack of gas mean the company has been intermittently operating some lines. It is currently running one BF, which it has fed with stocked raw materials. "If they shut the last blast furnace and import semis they would have to put some liquid gas solution in place and modify the reheat furnaces to be able to run on this different gas supply," a source said. The move to one furnace and reduction in gas supply has already affected availability of some products, and service centres expect tight universal channel supply in the coming months as the company opts for heavier, less lossmaking products. Production at Skinningrove and Teesside could continue, as both sites already have gas supply. But rail production at Scunthorpe would cease without any investment in gas supply. Rail is one of the more profitable businesses in the group, and also important for the wider UK as it is a major supplier to Network Rail. Some market participants are gearing up for Jingye, the Chinese owner of British Steel, to walk away. Executives from British Steel, and local politicians, are visiting China for discussions with Jingye, sources suggest. A spokesperson for British Steel refused to comment on "hypotheticals". "We are in ongoing discussions with the government about our decarbonisation plans and the future operations of our UK business. While progress continues, no final decisions have been made," the spokesperson said. A decision on the BFs could be made in the next few weeks, with them both potentially closing before Christmas, sources suggest. Speaking in Parliament earlier this week, business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said he was "heavily constrained" in his options for British Steel and operating on a shorter time window than the previous administration. The Chinese market has weakened considerably in recent months, which will have affected Jingye financially, along with all other mills, sources said. By Colin Richardson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Tokyo silent on Nippon-US Steel deal to avoid meddling
Tokyo silent on Nippon-US Steel deal to avoid meddling
Tokyo, 13 September (Argus) — The Japanese government is withholding any comment on the politically fraught acquisition of US Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel because it will create meddling, the country's trade and industry (Meti) minister said. Since Nippon Steel announced its $15bn deal to acquire US Steel in December 2023, Tokyo has remained silent despite it evoking bitter political and industrial debate. This is because any governmental comment will cause "interference in the internal affairs", Meti minister Ken Saito said on 13 September. The acquisition is facing stiff resistance from US vice-president and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris who said on 2 September in Pittsburgh that "US Steel should remain US-owned and US-operated".Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump criticised the deal in February, vowing to block the sale . Criticism from both candidates is seen as an attempt to gain the support of US labour unions for their presidential election ambitions. The deal is currently under review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), with US President Biden possibly considering vetoing the deal. The Japanese business federation Keidanren responded with an open letter to US treasury secretary Janet Yellen, who chairs the CFIUS, expressing concern about "political pressure being brought to bear" on the committee. "We fear that the CFIUS process is being used to further political agendas that are outside the committee's purview and putting the US economy and workers at risk", the letter said. "It is critical that CFIUS remain solely focused on defending US national security while championing economic openness. That was the standard set when Congress codified CFIUS in the 1980s". Meti minister Saito did not make any further direct comment on the deal, only to reiterate that each and every transaction by US and Japanese companies are the building blocks for astrong and resilient bilateral economy. By Yusuke Maekawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Padnos acquires three Midwest metal recyclers
Padnos acquires three Midwest metal recyclers
Pittsburgh, 12 September (Argus) — Metal recycler Padnos has acquired three businesses in Michigan and Indiana, the company said Wednesday. The Holland, Michigan-based company purchased the Sam Winer and Company scrap yard in Elkhart, Indiana, Howe Auto Sales in Bay City, Michigan, and Grandpa's Garage in Traverse City, Michigan. Grandpa's Garage is located next door to Padnos' Traverse City facility, allowing the company to expand that location. Financial details of the transactions were not disclosed. Padnos now operates 30 recycling facilities in Michigan and Indiana. By James Marshall Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
Moving target: Using an index to track volatile steel prices
Flat steel prices have experienced unprecedented volatility since 2020. Against this backdrop, an increasing number of buyers have started to link their purchasing to price indexes.
WhitePaper - 24/05/16Argus launches six new HRC cif Italy origin differentials
The market for importing hot-rolled coil (HRC) to the EU is being driven by a growing number of external factors that are widening differentials for prices from various origins, creating the need for new price assessments that improve transparency for an increasingly complex market.
WhitePaper - 24/02/04Hydrogen’s role in decarbonising steel production
The steel industry is a global colossus. Each year 6 billion tonnes of steel and steelmaking materials are moved around the world by truck, rail and ship. Despite a relatively light per tonne carbon footprint, the sheer size of the boot means the sector accounts for 7-9% of global CO2 emissions.
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The Argus ferrous portfolio includes over 1,600 assessments and delivers unbiased price data, reports and market commentary from across coking coal, iron ore, ferrous scrap, steel and relevant freight rates.
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