SK IE to finish Korean LiBS expansion by October

: Metals
19/07/24

South Korea's SK Innovation's battery materials unit SK IE Technology plans to complete an expansion of its domestic lithium-ion battery separator (LiBS) production within three months, boosting its domestic capacity by more than 50pc.

Commercial operation of the production lines in central Chungbuk province is scheduled to begin in October. Annual production capacity will be expanded to 530mn m³ from 350mn m³.

SK IE, a unit of SK Innovation that is South Korea's third-largest maker of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, was spun off as a separate company in April to give it more autonomy to take advantage of business opportunities.

Construction of a new 340mn m³/yr LiBS plant in Poland's Silesian region is scheduled to start this month, while a similar size factory in Changzhou, China is nearing completion.

SK IE sees its LiBS capacity more than tripling to 1.2bn m³/yr by 2021 when the new plants and the domestic expansion will all be completed. It will then be able to supply enough LiBS for 2mn EV batteries annually.

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26/04/27

Mexico trade balance swings to $6bn surplus in March

Mexico City, 27 April (Argus) — Mexico's trade balance in goods swung to a hefty $5.93bn surplus in March, amid a strong pick-up in manufacturing exports. The balance, reported by statistics agency Inegi, swung from the $463mn deficit in February after narrowing from a $6.48bn deficit in January. The March surplus also far surpassed the $1.03bn surplus forecast by Mexican bank Banorte. The swing to a surplus in March was led by widening of the non-oil trade surplus to US$8.32bn in March from US$1.55bn the previous month. Meanwhile, Mexico's oil-trade deficit expanded only slightly to $2.39bn in March from $2.01bn the previous month despite volatility in global oil prices hitting markets caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Total exports rose to $70.7bn in March from $56.9bn in February, with oil-related exports up at $1.71bn from $1.47bn. Crude exports increased to 495,000 b/d in March from 585,000 b/d in February, well below the 827,000 b/d recorded in March 2025. Non-oil exports rose to $69bn in March from $55.36bn the prior month. Manufacturing shipments increased to $64.7bn in March from $51.8bn in February, with automotive up to $17.4bn from $13.6bn in February. Imports totaled $64.8bn in March compared with $57.3bn in the prior month, with oil imports at $4.1bn in March compared with $3.5bn the prior month and non-oil imports at $60.7bn, up from $53.8bn the prior month. Mexican bank Banco Base suggests the outlook has worsened due to comments by economy minister Marcelo Ebrard during meetings with Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum and US trade representative Jamieson Greer. Ebrard indicated the review's goal is to reduce tariffs, not eliminate them, noting "a world without tariffs is unlikely to return." Banco Base considers this bad news for several reasons: Mexico enters the renegotiation with a weak stance, more willing to concede to the Trump administration than to secure favorable terms; and continued tariffs could be a bargaining chip to avoid addressing other US demands related to the rule of law and the opening of strategic sectors. In addition, said Banco Base, "Continued tariffs could lead to a sustained decline in affected sectors like steel and automotive, whose exports have fallen due to sectoral tariffs." Banco Base also mentions stricter rules of origin, which would further harm the automotive and steel industries. These measures would remove incentives for foreign companies in Mexico, slowing foreign direct investment growth. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

North Japan earthquake spares energy facilities

26/04/27

North Japan earthquake spares energy facilities

Tokyo, 27 April (Argus) — Domestic energy-related facilities did not take any damage after a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck southern Tokachi in Hokkaido, Japan, at around 05:23 local time (20:23 GMT) on 27 April, industry sources told Argus . There is no risk of a tsunami, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Japanese prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said at a House of Councillors budget committee meeting on the morning of 27 April that she did not receive any reports of casualties or damage so far following the earthquake. The earthquake did not affect power generation facilities, including the Tomari nuclear power plant, a representative of Hokkaido Electric Power Network, the regional power grid operator, told Argus, adding that there were no power outages. Japanese refiner Idemitsu Kosan operates a 140,000 b/d refinery on the southern coast of Hokkaido. But the refinery was not affected by the earthquake and remains operational, Idemitsu said. There has not been any damage at Nippoon Steel's Muroran steelworks in Muroran, Hokkaido, a representative of the company said. A magnitude 7.7 earthquake also struck northeastern Japan on 20 April, but the Japan Meteorological Agency said there is no direct link between that quake and the latest one. By Fumito Nagase, Motoko Hasegawa, and Kohei Yamamoto Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

India becomes net steel exporter but outlook uncertain

26/04/23

India becomes net steel exporter but outlook uncertain

Mumbai, 23 April (Argus) — India transitioned to a net exporter of finished steel in the April 2025-March 2026 fiscal year after two consecutive years as a net importer. But trade barriers in Europe and geopolitical tensions complicate the export outlook this year. Finished steel exports rose by 36pc year on year to 6.6mn t in 2025-26, exceeding imports by 78,000t, according to provisional data from the steel ministry's joint plant committee (JPC). The increase was driven by robust demand from Europe in the second half of 2025, as buyers stockpiled ahead of key trade policy changes in 2026. Italy was India's largest export market, with shipments up by 51pc year on year to 1.07mn t in the fiscal year. Italy, Belgium and Spain together accounted for 34pc of India's total finished steel exports during the period. Indian finished steel shipments to Vietnam also surged, supported by anti-dumping measures and an anti-circumvention probe into Chinese hot-rolled coil (HRC). Exports to Vietnam rose from about 11,000t in the previous fiscal year to 772,300t, making the southeast Asian country India's second-largest export market in the fiscal year ended March 2026. But Indian steel exports face fresh headwinds this year, particularly in Europe, where the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and impending safeguard quota revisions have made buyers more cautious. Some export opportunities have surfaced, but these are overshadowed by risks. EU quota, Iran war limit exports Indian flat steel volumes to Europe are expected to decline from July, as quotas will likely be halved and out-of-quota duties doubled to 50pc, market participants said. India quickly exhausted its January-March and April-June HRC quotas after a surge in shipments to Europe over December-January. Importing Indian HRC has become much riskier because of lower quota availability and higher duties from the next quarter. If India's HRC quota is breached again, the pro-rated duty is likely to rise from 8-9pc at present to 15-20pc from July, an international steel trader said. Combined with CBAM charges and other costs, this will make Indian material less attractive to buyers unless EU local prices rise sharply, the trader added. The Argus daily Italian HRC index rose by 10pc from end-December to €694.25/t ($812/t) ex-works on 22 April. Indian HRC offers were last heard at $705–710/t cfr EU for May and June shipments. The Iran war forced Indian mills to suspend offers to the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) region and postpone shipments for earlier bookings. The strait of Hormuz has remained effectively closed since the conflict began at the end of February, blocking India's access to markets such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia. A sharp increase in ocean freight rates and vessel shortages resulting from the war have also led some major Indian mills to scale back exports and focus on the domestic market. Opportunities tempered by uncertainty There are early signs of emerging opportunities in an otherwise challenging export environment. Indian cold-rolled coil (CRC) exports could increase after the European Commission said it would not impose provisional duties on imports under investigation. Sourcing CRC locally is currently difficult in Europe, an EU-based trader said. Other market sources said that European demand for Indian CRC may rise in the short term, but quota reductions will ultimately impede sales from July. Market participants also expect a surge in demand from the Middle East due to post-war reconstruction activity. But with no clear resolution in sight to the conflict, it is difficult to assess when the GCC market will reopen for Indian exports. Vietnam also offers an opportunity for Indian mills to offload surplus volumes, particularly from June, when plants resume full production after maintenance and domestic demand eases during the monsoon. Imported coil prices in Vietnam reached an over two-year high this week, making the market more attractive for Indian sellers than earlier in the year. By Amruta Khandekar Indian finished steel exports 000t Destination country FY2025-26 FY2024-25 Italy 1,068.8 707.8 Vietnam 772.3 10.6 Belgium 720.8 544.1 UAE 486.0 488.8 Spain 482.9 416.4 Others 3,070.8 2,689.9 Total 6,601.5 4,857.5 Source: JPC 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

26/04/22

Recent deep-sea and short-sea cfr Turkey scrap deals

London, 22 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 7-Apr 3,000 380 (80:20) April Marmara Romania HMS 1/2 80:20 Y 6-Apr 3,000 382 (80:20) April Marmara Romania 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 21-Apr 40,000 404 (80:20) May Samsun Scandinavia HMS 1/2 80:20, bonus Y 21-Apr 40,000 401 (80:20) May Izmir Cont.Europe HMS 1/2 80:20, bonus Y 20-Apr 40,000 400 (80:20) May Iskenderun UK HMS 1/2 80:20, bonus Y 16-Apr 40,000 403 (80:20) June Izmir USA HMS 1/2 80:20, shred Y 15-Apr 40,000 401.5 (80:20) May Iskenderun USA HMS 1/2 80:20, shred Y 15-Apr 40,000 395 (80:20) May Iskenderun Cont.Europe HMS 1/2 80:20, bonus N 15-Apr 40,000 397 (80:20) May Iskenderun UK HMS 1/2 80:20, bonus N 13-Apr 40,000 397.5 (80:20) May Marmara Baltic HMS 1/2 80:20, bonus Y 10-Apr 40,000 402 (85:15) May Marmara Cont.Europe HMS 1/2 80:20, bonus Y 8-Apr 25,000 395.5 (80:20) May Izmir UK HMS 1/2 80:20 Y Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

SDI expects stable 2Q US ferrous scrap flows

26/04/21

SDI expects stable 2Q US ferrous scrap flows

Pittsburgh, 21 April (Argus) — US steelmaker Steel Dynamics (SDI) expects domestic ferrous scrap flows to remain stable over the next two quarters, after inclement weather tightened supply and lifted prices earlier this year. Harsh winter weather earlier this year disrupted scrap collection rates, processing and logistics, which supported domestic obsolete ferrous scrap prices. Seasonally stronger obsolete scrap flows in April weighed on domestic shredded and #1 HMS scrap prices for the first time since October. SDI's recycling segment posted an operating profit of $47mn in the first quarter, up from $26mn a year earlier, underpinned by higher ferrous scrap prices and shipments. The company shipped 1.47mn gross tons (gt) of ferrous scrap in the first quarter, up by 1pc from a year earlier, though external shipments fell marginally to 553,000gt. Average external finished steel sales prices rose to $1,193/short ton (st), up from $998/st a year earlier, while ferrous scrap costs averaged $396/st, up from $386/st a year earlier. The increase in external steel sales prices outpaced the slight increase in ferrous costs, widening SDI's scrap/steel spreads to $797/st, up by $185/st from a year earlier. SDI has leaned more heavily on low-copper shred and #1 busheling in its melt mixes to help mitigate rising pig iron costs, the company said. Basic pig iron cfr New Orleans reached $495/metric tonne on 14 April, the highest level since June 2023. SDI posted a profit of $403mn in the first quarter, up from $217mn a year earlier. By Brad MacAulay Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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SK IE to finish Korean LiBS expansion by October

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