CATEGORIES

Graphite electrode makers up for challenging time

With slowing demand, high cost inventory add to Covid woes

Global steel makers cut production, conserve cash

Sees severe lockdown impact

FY20 ends for Motown on a new low

It has been a bad year for the country’s auto sector, as all throughout 2019-20 (FY20) the sector had to withstand several storms like liquidity crunch, dealer points shutting down and poor consumer sentiment, which weakened demand.

Corona Pandemic To Delay Steel Sector Revival

Just when the steel makers started celebrating sector revival set in motion since November with successive rounds of price hikes, the coronavirus pandemic that continues to spread its tentacles outside China, has played spoilsport and could delay any long term and sustained revival in demand and prices of steel.

Coronavirus Plagues Passenger Car Sales In Feb

China accounts for 27 percent of India’s auto component imports of $4.8 billion and adverse impact is felt for high value-added, while commoditised products could shift to alternative suppliers. Impact will be more profound on commercial, passenger and the two-wheeler segments.

Tata Steel group India profit down on lower steel prices

“In India, our business model helped us counter the slowdown as we successfully penetrated new markets and expanded our customer universe. We were also able to maintain our sales to the auto segment despite the sluggishness faced by the auto industry,” TV Narendran, CEO and MD, Tata Steel

Steel ministry, Japan join hands for steel usage workshops

A series of workshops on “Enabling Procedures for Increase of Steel Usage for the Growth of Economy” is being organised the ministry of steel in partnership with the Japanese ministry of economy, trade, and industry and Confederation of Indian Industries.

Seaborne coking coal offers move up in February

Seaborne coking coal offers rose in February 2020 amid short supply. Premium variety quoted at $157/ton FOB Australia on February 27, 2020 as against $153 per ton on January 31, 2019. Peak Down prices quoted at $158/ ton FOB Australia on February 27, 2020 as compared to $154 on January 31, 2019.

Rio Tinto to invest $1 billion to help meet new climate change targets

Sees greater scrap use in low-emission steel making

KOPT LOOKS BEYOND CARGO, FORAYS INTO SHIP REPAIR, CRUISE

As Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) celebrates its 150th anniversary, the organisation that manages the ports of Kolkata as well as Haldia, finds itself at the crossroads. Even as the shallow depth of the Hoogly river at Kolkata and elsewhere along the downstream continues to pose challenges, growing importance of inland waterways cargo movement and planned projects under the Sagarmala programme along with the outreach to deep-drafted Sagar have put the spotlight back on KoPT. Arindam Bandyopadhyay caught up with Vinit Kumar, the Chairman of KoPT, who talked about the new plans and projects as well as the impact of the coronavirus epidemic that is roiling global trade and shipping industry. Excerpts from an interview:

Growth of steel hinges on metallic availability

The semi-finished steel market, a critical part of the steel making process, forms the very basis of quality of raw material required and the final output at the hands of the consumers.

ArcelorMittal sees structural weakness in China

“In 2020 both GDP and steel demand growth are still likely to be weaker than what was expected prior to the outbreak. Steel demand now expected to grow only 0-1 percent in 2020, down from 1 to 2% previously expected.”

Anti-dumping duty on China coated flats likely

Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), part of the commerce ministry, has recommended the imposition of anti-dumping duty on aluminum and zinc coated flat products from China, Vietnam, and Korea, following complaints by JSW Steel Coated Product (JSW).

Union Budget Proposals To Boost Steel Sector

The Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently in the Parliament have some significant projects and investments that are to be made in the construction, infrastructure, and railways sector.

Coronavirus Epidemic: China Crisis Infects Global Trade And Manufacturing

Hubei auto hub worst hit; authorities tries hard to revive economy

Motown starts 2020 on a low key

The country’s motown has started off the New Year on a low key as most automakers faced declining sales.

Global steel makers set CO2 emission targets

Using Hydrogen in blast furnace a challenge

Global crude steel output increases by 3.4% in 2019

Global crude steel production reached 1,869.9 million tons for 2019, up 3.4 percent over 2018. Crude steel production contracted in all regions except in Asia and the Middle East. Asia produced 1,341.6 mt in 2019, an increase of 5.7 percent. China’s crude steel production reached 996.3 mt, up by 8.3 percent over 2018.

Flat Makers

Shrugging off downturn with special offerings

RINL bets on operational efficiency, foray into flat products for growth in phase II

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) is a Navaratna Public Sector Entity under the Ministry of Steel.

Ferro alloy industry worried over mine lease expiry

The most concerning matter for ferro-alloys industry today is the impending expiry of many working leases on March 31, 2020, according to Sunil Duggal, president, Federation of Indian Mineral Industries.

December auto sales not promising enough

The primary reason behind the marginal growth is heavy discounting and low base in the corresponding month last year. While few carmakers are still in transition phase adjusting stock level of BS-IV vehicles as the industry is moving towards stricter emission norms

Cost+Effieciency Need of the Hour

Conventionally, the economic impact of an industry is measured by its contribution to GDP (Gross Domestic Product), i.e. gross value addition from the industry - the difference between the value of output and intermediate inputs.

Steel industry seeing green shoots, demand coming back: Sajjan Jindal

Indian government has done a lot for the steel industry and now it is the time for the industry to rejig product portfolio in line with market and promote “Make in India” initiative in ancillary industries, Sajjan Jindal, chairman, JSW Group, said.

Steel Ministry proposes integrated steel hubs

The Ministry of Steel has proposed setting up integrated steel hubs similar to the ones in Korea, China, and Germany. The hubs would support the growth of the steel sector.

ARJAS PLANS ₹200 CRORE INVESTMENT TO IMPROVE OPS, EXPAND CAPACITY

An integrated special steel producer, Arjas Steel, formerly known as Gerdau Steel India Private Limited completed 1 year after Private equity firm, ADV Partners, acquired Arjas Steel from the Brazilian entity, Gerdau Steel for about $120 million. Arjas Steel is in the mode of production capacity expansion and planning to set up its own R&D centre to better customise its products to suit the market requirements. Being the only large steel plant in Andhra Pradesh in private sector, Arjas has big plans to develop and shape up the state economy. In a freewheeling interview to Tamajit Pain of Steel Insights, Sridhar Krishnamoorthy, Managing Director, Arjas Steel shares the industries challenges and prospects and how the company is helping local economy by providing livelihood.

Vehicle Scrapping Facility Draft Guidelines Issued

The Road Transport and Highways ministry has recently issued draft guidelines for operating vehicle scrapping facilities in the country stating minimum requirements for a scrappage facility for collection and dismantling of vehicles under the guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Steel's Constructive Way To Growth

India is one of the economies in the world where steel demand is continually showing positive growth.

JSL, Braithwaite Ink Deal For Railway Road-Over-Bridges

Marking its foray in structural infrastructure applications, Jindal Stainless Limited (JSL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Braithwaite & Co Limited (BCL), a Government of India undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, to develop stainless steel foot-over-bridges (FOBs), road-overbridges (ROBs) etc.

India To Allow Steel Firms To Divert Iron-ore From Captive Mines

The Indian government will permit domestic steel producers to divert iron-ore production from captive mines to any other production facilities and/ or joint ventures.