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
BHP, CATL, BYD ink battery deals for mining: Update
BHP, CATL, BYD ink battery deals for mining: Update
Beijing, 14 July (Argus) — Australian diversified mining group BHP has signed non-binding deals with China's largest battery manufacturer CATL and largest electric vehicle producer BYD to develop battery solutions for heavy equipment and railway locomotives used in mining activity. BHP and CATL aim to collaborate in areas such as the electrification of mining equipment, construction of fast-charging infrastructure, and energy storage and battery recycling. They plan to accelerate the electrification of BHP's mining operations and to create a replicable "green transformation model" for the global mining industry, CATL said on 14 July. Global demand for critical minerals such as lithium and nickel has increased with the rise in renewable energy technologies. This in turn has spurred the expansion of the mining industry, which is energy-intensive and emissions-intensive, said CATL. BHP aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations by 2050. BHP and FinDreams Battery, a subsidiary of BYD, signed a similar deal on 14 July to research and explore battery system solutions suitable for heavy mining equipment and locomotives, as well as the corresponding fast-charging infrastructure. BHP will use explore the viability of using BYD's commercial and light vehicles in BHP's mines. CATL's total battery capacity is projected to reach 700-1,000 GWh/yr in 2025, which would make it the world's first TWh-level battery manufacturer, according to market participants. The firm has been accelerating expansions outside China in recent years, with projects in Germany, Hungary, Spain, and Indonesia. CATL has been trying to expand its presence in the conventional energy and mining sectors. It is building a 40 GWh/yr factory in Dongying, which is the largest oil refining city in China, with the aim of helping Dongying evolve into a zero-carbon city. China's sales of new energy trucks have increased in 2025, mainly on the back of government subsidies, overtaking LNG trucks in displacing diesel vehicles. The country's sales of new energy trucks in January-June reached about 72,000 units, more than 2½ times year-earlier levels. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
CATL, BHP team up to spur mining electrification
CATL, BHP team up to spur mining electrification
Beijing, 14 July (Argus) — China's largest battery manufacturer CATL has signed a non-binding deal with Australian diversified mining group BHP to develop battery solutions for heavy equipment and railway locomotives used in mining activity. The two firms aim to collaborate in areas such as the electrification of mining equipment, construction of fast-charging infrastructure, and energy storage and battery recycling. They plan to accelerate the electrification of BHP's mining operations and to create a replicable "green transformation model" for the global mining industry, CATL said on 14 July. Global demand for critical minerals such as lithium and nickel has been increasing with the rise in renewable energy technologies. This in turn has spurred the expansion of the mining industry, which is energy-intensive and emissions-intensive, said CATL. BHP aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations by 2050. CATL's total battery capacity is projected to reach 700-1,000 GWh/yr in 2025, which would make it the world's first TWh-level battery manufacturer, according to market participants. The firm has been accelerating expansions outside China in recent years, with projects in Germany, Hungary, Spain, and Indonesia. CATL has been trying to expand its presence in the conventional energy and mining sectors. It is building a 40 GWh/yr factory in Dongying, which is the largest oil refining city in China, with the aim of helping Dongying evolve into a zero-carbon city. China's sales of new energy trucks have increased in 2025 , mainly on the back of government subsidies, overtaking LNG trucks in displacing diesel vehicles. The country's sales of new energy trucks in January-June reached about 72,000 units, more than 2½ times year-earlier levels. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australia’s South32 reviews Mozambique Al operations
Australia’s South32 reviews Mozambique Al operations
Sydney, 14 July (Argus) — Australian metal producer South32 is reviewing the value of its 580,000 t/yr Mozal aluminium smelter in Mozambique, southeast Africa, and the plant's production target, over electricity supply issues. South32 expects to partially write down the value of Mozal in its upcoming financial report for the 2024-25 fiscal year ending 30 June. It is also reviewing Mozal's production target for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The target has not been released yet. Mozal runs on electricity supplied by Mozambique generator Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), which is partly owned by the country's government, and South African utility Eskom. South32's power supply agreement with the two providers will end in March 2026, the company said on 14 July. It has been negotiating a new agreement with HCB, Eskom and Mozambique's government for six years. But it has not been able to secure a deal. South32 may need to halt production at Mozal if it cannot sign a new supply agreement by March 2026, the company said. The company has faced operational challenges in Mozambique since late 2024. It withdrew Mozal's 2024-25 production guidance in early December 2024 because of civil unrest in the country. But the company later reset it to 350,000t, on an equity basis. South32 produced 314,000t of aluminium at the smelter , on an equity basis, in 2023-24. Mozal is not the only smelter facing electricity issues. Aluminium smelters consume large amounts of energy and global producers often face supply challenges. UK-Australian producer Rio Tinto is seeking the Australian government's support for its 600,000 t/yr Tomago smelter in New South Wales, Australia, because of energy costs. Rio Tinto also ran its 335,000 t/yr Tiwai Point aluminium smelter in New Zealand at a reduced rate over the second half of 2024, in response to an electricity demand reduction request from New Zealand utility Meridian Energy. By Avinash Govind Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Section 232 imports avoid planned US-Canada tariff
Section 232 imports avoid planned US-Canada tariff
Houston, 11 July (Argus) — The newly announced plans for a 35pc tax on Canadian imports to the US will not apply to goods already subject to Section 232 tariffs, according to a White House official. Steel and aluminum imports have been subject to 50pc Section 232 tariffs since 4 June, and copper and its derivatives will be subject to a 50pc tariff beginning 1 August. The official expects imports from Canada currently tariffed at a rate of 25pc to increase to 35pc, excluding US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement-compliant goods, energy and potash, but said no final decision by President Donald Trump had been made. By Jenna Baer Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
Seaborne coking coal market 2024 review
Global seaborne coking coal prices experienced a broad decline in 2024, dropping below a four-year low in September as the entire ferrous raw materials complex came under pressure from a wider oversupply of steel products, which weighed heavily on both market sentiment and prices
Podcast - 25/04/30Metal Movers: Impact of British Steel under UK governance
WhitePaper - 25/04/22Creating more price transparency in US steel sheet prices: The numbers behind the numbers
Discover how Argus is transforming US sheet price assessments with enhanced transparency, structured data, and deeper market insights.
Explore our steel raw materials products
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.
Key price assessments
Argus prices are recognised by the market as trusted and reliable indicators of the real market value. Explore some of our most widely used and relevant price assessments.