PRESIDENTE DO CONSELHO DA USIMINAS DIZ QUE SITUAÇÃO "É INTOLERÁVEL"

O presidente do conselho da Usiminas considerou, em sua manifestação de voto durante assembleia da companhia na qual justifica ser "intolerável" o cenário de interinidade de uma companhia do porte da Usiminas - referindo-se ao fato de que desde abril de 2014 os mandatos da diretoria estão vencidos. 

Outro ponto que ele destaca é o "quadro bastante preocupante" do andamento dos negócios sob a gestão até aquele momento, que "não conseguiu impedir a rápida deterioração de seu caixa, tendo os resultados da companhia sido inferiores aos de suas concorrentes"

EMPILHADEIRA INICIA TESTES NO PROJETO CARAJÁS S11D, DA VALE

Começaram os testes da empilhadeira de lança dupla do pátio de regularização do Projeto da Vale Ferro Carajás S11D, a primeira máquina de pátio a iniciar os movimentos de translação na etapa pré-comissionamento. Com mais de 70 metros de comprimento, a máquina é responsável por receber o minério que vem da britagem secundária e empilhá-lo no pátio.

Nos testes, realizados na última semana, foi possível checar alguns pontos como alinhamento, acionamentos do movimento de translação (partida e parada), frenagem, travamento nos trilhos, condições de lubrificação além do comportamento dos motores e dos sistemas de automação. “São testes bem específicos, que deverão ser repetidos quantas vezes for necessário até que possamos validá-los para início de operação.

CLIFFS WILL SELL 7 MILLION LONG TONS OF PELLETS TO ARCELORMITTAL USA

Cliffs  Natural Resources said Tuesday that the new agreement with ArcelorMittal USA establishes a minimum tonnage of pellets of seven million long tons, which is higher than the combined minimum levels of the agreements that expire in December 2016 and January 2017. 

SHARES OF CLIFFS NATURAL ROCKETS 36% AFTER AGREEMENT WITH ARCELORMITTAL

Shares of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. rocketed 36% in active morning trade Tuesday, enough to make them the biggest percentage gainers listed on the NYSE, after the mining company announced a new 10-year commercial agreement to supply Arcelor Mittal USA LLC  with iron ore pellets. 

Trading volume reached 18 million shares within the first half hour of trade, compared with the full-day average of 12.5 million shares, according to FactSet. 

Cliffs said the new agreement establishes a minimum tonnage of pellets of seven million long tons, which is higher than the combined minimum levels of the agreements that expire in December 2016 and January 2017. The stock has nearly tripled year to date, while the S&P 500 has gained 2.8%.

CLIFFS NATURAL, FROM THE U.S., MAKES 10-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH ACELORMITTAL

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. said it reached a 10-year agreement to supply steel giant ArcelorMittal with iron-ore pellets.

MINERADORA ESTATAL DA BOLÌVIA TENTA CAPTAR PARA PAGAR SALÁRIOS; EMPRESA TEM ACORDO COM SINOSTEEL

A Empresa Siderúrgica del Mutún (ESM) tenta captar 8,9 milhões de bolivianos, cerca de R$ 4,7 milhões, para pagar salários atrasados. 

A direção da empresa, que fica em Puerto Suarez, perto da fronteira com o Brasil, nega que a estatal esteja quebrada. 

Em março, a empresa assinou um acordo com a chinesa Sinosteel no valor de US$ 460 milhões para construir uma pelotizadora e uma siderúrgica. 

TATA'S DUTCH STEELWORKERS SAY: "WE WON'T LET THEM WRECK OUR PLANT"

With Tata Steel's troubled British operations up for sale, Dutch workers at its only other European site for primary steelmaking are in defensive mood, and yet the plant may have a bright future.

"We won't let them wreck our plant" is their motto, directed at top managers of the Indian-owned group ; some of the 9,000 staff at the IJmuiden plant on the Dutch North Sea coast even wear it to work on their safety helmets.

The slogan dates from contract talks last year but shows their defiant spirit during uncertain times for a European steel industry beset by overcapacity and cheap Chinese competition.

LEASE EXPIRE TO CREATE 66 MILLION TONNE IRON ORE DEFICIT IN ODISHA (AUSTRALIA)

The lapsing of validity of 16 merchant mines in Odisha by March 31, 2020 is set to create a deficit of 66 million tonne (mt) of iron ore. Steel mills and other end use industries operating without captive ore sources are likely to be hit hard as no roadmap has been prepared for auctioning of these leases.

As per the provisions of the amended Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, the validity of existing non-merchant mines have been extended till March 31,2020 and those of captive leases till 2030.

CHINESE DOMESTIC STEEL PRICES CONTINUES TO TRADE DOWN

During the week ending May 30, average steel plate prices in the Chinese domestic market have indicated a downward trend.

RAIN IMPACTS CHINESE REBAR AND WIRE ROD PRICES

During the week ending May 30, Chinese domestic rebar and wire rod prices have mostly decreased.

Prices fell mainly in consequence of the rainy weather.

DONGBEI, FROM CHINA, PROMISES THAT WILL NOT CONVERT BONDS INTO SHARES

 Dongbei Special Steel Group, from China, promises that it will not covert its bonds MTN1 and the MTN2 issued in 2013 into shares.

A MTN1 and MTN2 conference decision showed earlier that holders of the notes asked the company to promise in a written form not to convert the bonds into shares and promise to guarantee principal and interest by all means.

AUSTRALIAN ATLANTIC COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF WINDIMURRA

Australian mining company Atlantic has completed the acquisition of the Windimurra vanadium and iron ore project from its own subsidiary Midwes Vanadium.

TATA STEEL ACCUSED OF "BRINKMANSHIP" OVER UK EXIT

Tata Steel's Indian parent company has been accused of "brinkmanship" designed purely to "get concessions out of the government", reports the Daily Mail, as speculation mounts that it could pull a sale of its main UK assets.

Having apparently caught ministers on the hop with March's announcement that it was pulling out of the UK, following years of sales rumours, Tata has been working with the government on a bidding process to secure a rescue deal.

As many as seven offers may have been submitted for the businesses based around the Port Talbot blast furnaces, which collectively account for more than 11,000 jobs.

TATA INVESTS IN START-UP FROM SILICON VALLEY

Tata Group Emeritus Chair Ratan Tata has invested in MUrgency, a medical emergency startup in 
Silicon Valley that is led by a Keralite. 

Tata, who has invested in close to two dozens of startups is investing in a Keralite-led firm for the first time. 

TERNIUM ACUSA EX-PRESIDENTE DA USIMINAS DE "IRREGULARIDADES"

A ítalo-argentina Ternium acusou Rômel de Souza, ex-presidente da Usiminas, de "irregularidades" e de atitudes "irresponsáveis" quando estava à frente da siderúrgica.

A Ternium tem o controle da Usiminas, junto com a Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal.

As atitudes de Rômel de Souza, segundo a Ternium, foram o motivo de a companhia não reelegê-lo para o cargo.

Na quarta-feira passada, Sérgio Leite foi eleito novo presidente da Usiminas com os votos dos conselheiros da Ternium, da Usiminas Previdência, do BTG Pactual e da presidência do conselho.

TERNIUM ACCUSES FORMER PRESIDENT OF USIMINAS OF "IRRESPONSIBLE" CONDUCT

Ternium accused Rômel de Souza, former president of Usiminas, of "irregularities" and "irresponsible" attitudes when he was the head of the company.

Ternium controls Usiminas togheter with the Japanese Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal. Ternium is an Italian-Argentine company.

CHINA CRITICIZES U.S. DECISION ON CARBON AND ALLOY STEEL IMPORTS

China's MOC has stated that the US has been continuously taking trade remedy measures against China, which it qualified as “extremely imprudent”.

CHINA'S METALLURGICAL COKE EXPORTS JUMP TO 3.43 MILLION TONNES

In the January-April period this year, China’s metallurgical coke exports totaled 3.43 million mt, rising by 16.1 percent year on year.

GERMANY IMPORT PRICE OF IRON ORE FALLS 0.9%

In April this year the import price of iron ore in Germany decreased by 0.9 percent year on year.

NIPPON STEEL MOVING TO BLOCK NEW CEO AT BRAZIL'S USIMINAS

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal came out against the decision by Brazilian affiliate Usiminas to appoint a new CEO, suggesting renewed friction over the management of the steel producer.

NIPPON STEEL QUER ANULAR ELEIÇÃO DE PRESIDENTE DA USIMINAS

O grupo Nippon Steel, um dos controladores da Usiminas, quer invalidar a eleição de Sérgio Leite para a presidência da siderúrgica. 

O grupo japonês afirma que a decisão, tomada na reunião do Conselho de Administração da empresa realizada na quarta-feira (25) em São Paulo (SP), não teve consentimento prévio, violando o acordo de acionistas.

MAPA MOSTRA OS 20 MAIORES PRODUTORES DE AÇO DO MUNDO

MAP SHOWS TOP 20 STEEL-PRODUCING COUNTRIES

CHINA PRODUCED MORE STEEL THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD AGAIN IN APRIL

In April, China produced more crude steel that the rest of the world combined, the second month in a row that this had eventuated. 

As the map reveals, supplied by the World Steel Association, this was a continuation of the dominance seen in 2015.

According to the group, China produced 803.8 million tonnes of steel during the year, close to eight times more than second placed Japan with 105.2 million tonnes.

MINÉRIO DE FERRO DO BRASIL CAI A US$ 54,25

O minério de ferro brasileiro com alto teor caiu para US$ 54,25 a tonelada nesta segunda-feira.

A informação é da NMB.

IRON ORE FROM BRAZIL FALLS TO US$ 54.25

Iron ore from Brazil with high grade fell to US$ 54.25 per tonne this Monday.

The information is from NMB.

MINÉRIO DE FERRO CAI 1,7%, PARA US$ 50,27

O  preço do minério de ferro caiu 1,7% nesta segunda-feira e foi a 50,27 por t.

A cotação é para o produto 62% negociado em Qingdao, segundo o Metal Bulletin.

IRON ORE FALLS 1.7%, TO US$ 50.27

Iron ore went down 1.7% this Monday, to US$ 50.27 per tonne.

The price is for the product 62% negotiated in Qingdao, according to Metal Bulletin.

BRASIL "ROUBA" LUGAR DA TURQUIA E É O 8o. MAIOR PRODUTOR DE AÇO

O Brasil tomou o lugar da Turquia e tornou-se o 8o. colocado no ranking global de 50 maiores produtores de aço bruto.

BRAZIL TAKES THE 8th SPOT IN THE GLOBAL RANKING OF LARGEST STEEL PRODUCERS

Brazil swapped positions with Turkey to take the 8th spot in a ranking of the 50 largest global crude steel producers.

FEAR OF STEEL SECTOR'S "DEATH BY A 1,000 CUTS" AS TATA SILENT ON SALE PROCESS

Tata has refused to rule out holding on to its crisis-hit British steel division, raising fears that the business could suffer “a death by a thousand cuts”.

Delivering annual results for the Tata’s global steel business, Koushik Chatterjee, executive director, declined to give details on the board’s thoughts on the seven bids the company has received for the loss-making UK plants.

But pressed on whether Tata could do a U-turn and hold on to the business – which the Government has said it is willing to take a 25pc stake in and offer financial support to if this will keep it alive – he refused to deny this was an option

“I don’t think we have a case as yet,” said Mr Chatterjee. “There is lots of focus only on a sale.”

VALE ADR WENT UP 4%

Vale ADR went up 4% this Wednesday in the Nyse.

The price was US$ 4.07.

AÇÃO DA VALE SOBE 2,47%, MAS NO MÊS AINDA ACUMULA QUEDA DE 26%

A ação preferencial (classe A) da Vale subiu 2,47% nesta quarta-feira, para R$ 11,63.

No entanto, o papel ainda acumula queda de 26,11% neste mês de maio.

USIMINAS ESCOLHE NOVO PRESIDENTE POR 6 VOTOS CONTRA 3; NIPPON STEEL VOTOU CONTRA

A Usiminas confirmou nesta quarta-feira, 25, Sergio Leite como o novo presidente da siderúrgica mineira, em substituição de Rômel de Souza, que ocupava o cargo desde o afastamento de Julian Eguren, ou seja, desde que eclodiu a briga societária entre Ternium e Nippon Steel, acionistas controladoras da Usiminas.

Em seu lugar, como diretor vice-presidente Comercial, ficará Ascanio Merrighi de Figueiredo Silva, da Soluções Usiminas.

O Broadcast, serviço de notícias em tempo real da Agência Estado, apurou que o placar da votação em reunião do Conselho de Administração, que ocorreu nesta quarta-feira em São Paulo, foi de seis a três. 

Votaram a favor da troca da presidência os três conselheiros indicados pelas Ternium, o do BTG, o indicado pela Previdência Usiminas e o dos Trabalhadores. Os demais foram os dos conselheiros indicados pela Nippon, que já havia se colocado contra a troca da presidência.

IN 4 WEEKS, HRC JUMPED 20.4% IN THE U.S.

In 4 weeks, the price of HRC in the U.S. went up 20.4%.

There was increase in HRC also in North Europe (+11.7%) and South Europe (+16.5%).

On the other hand, prices fell 20.5% in the period in Asia, according to TSI.

GRÁFICO MOSTRA QUEDA DO PREÇO DO MINÉRIO DE FERRO EM 12 MESES

CHART SHOWS DOWNTURN OF IRON ORE PRICES

TURKISH SCRAP IMPORT MARKETS STILL SILENT

The uncertainty in the Turkish scrap markets continued on Wednesday May 25 as buyers have kept away from deep-sea purchases for almost three weeks.

HITACHI TEM ESCAVADEIRAS HIDRÁULICAS PARA MINERAÇÃO

A linha de escavadeiras hidráulicas de mineração da Hitachi inclui modelos de 120 a 800 toneladas de peso operacional, sendo este último, o modelo EX8000, um dos maiores equipamentos hidráulicos disponíveis, com caçamba de 40 m3 de capacidade. 

As escavadeiras estão disponíveis nas versões Front Shovel e Backhoe, acionadas por motor diesel ou elétrico. 

BALTIC EXCHANGE IN TALKS FOR ITS SALE TO SINGAPORE EXCHANGE

The Baltic Exchange Ltd has entered into exclusive discussions with Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX) for the sale of the 272-year old global maritime organisation.

If the deal goes ahead, it would see the Baltic’s existing presence in Asia broaden via SGX’s regional distribution network, the retention of the multiple clearing house model, and a commitment to preserve the Baltic’s current ethos as a membership organisation with member market activities governed by the Baltic Code. SGX has also said it would freeze existing membership subscriptions and data fee levels for members for five years, maintain SGX clearing fees for Freight Forward Assessment (FFA) contracts at current levels for at least five years.

PENSION BENEFITS MAY BE CUT IN BID TO SOLVE TATA STEEL CRISIS

The government is considering cuts to British Steel pension benefits in a bid to save Tata Steel's UK operations.

On Thursday, ministers are expected to announce a consultation on proposals that the annual pension increase be based on the Consumer Price inflation measure, which is usually below the Retail Price measure currently used.

Tata Steel is currently considering bids for its loss-making UK operations.

IRON ORE AND COAL SHIPPING FIRMS STRUGGLE TO RIDE OUT WORST DOWNTURN ON RECORD

Shipping companies transporting coal, and iron ore and other commodities are urgently seeking ways to conserve cash and withstand the worst market downturn on record as too many ships chase shrinking business.

A shortage of financing - estimated at $30 billion and caused in part by banks cutting lending to sectors such as shipping - has also hurt companies, sending some to the wall.

"The overall prospects for the dry bulk market are fairly dark - it seems that there is little faith in the market for a recovery. The market mood deteriorates by the day, despite the recent improvement of the Baltic Index," said Basil Karatzas, head of consultancy and brokerage Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co.

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, earlier this year crashed to an all-time low of under 300 points.

While it has moved up to just over 600 points of late, the index - which global investors look to for changes in sentiment for industrial demand - is still nearly 95 percent down from its all-time peak in 2008.

"Owners should be prepared to face a market which does not improve until 2018 but hope that improvement comes earlier," said Tony Foster, chief executive of British shipping asset manager Marine Capital.

CHINA IS REOPENING STEEL MILLS

Despite pledges to cut steel production, China is reopening some of its mills.

A recent price rally in the domestic market is reported to have led to the restarting of more than 40 blast furnaces this year.

Massive overcapacity has already led to a flood of cheap Chinese steel exports, putting pressure on producers worldwide

VALOR DE TRANSAÇÕES NO SETOR GLOBAL DE MINERAÇÃO CAI PARA US$ 3,3 BILHÕES

A consultoria EY disse que o valor dos acordos e transações no setor de mineração global caiu 45% no primeiro trimestre deste ano sobre 2015, para US$ 3,3 bilhões. 

O baixo volume de transações confirma que a difícil realidade enfrentada pelas companhias em todo o setor está longe de acabar, segundo a EY no relatório “Divestments: extracting hidden value”, publicado neste mês.

TATA STEEL CONSIDERS KEEPING UK BUSINESS, SAY SOURCES

 Tata Steel is considering keeping its UK business, raising hopes that the Port Talbot steelworks and 11,000 jobs can be saved.

Sources close to Tata Steel say it is evaluating the performance of its UK operations and the package of financial support that the government has offered, at the same time as running a sales process.

Sajid Javid, the business secretary, held talks with Tata Steel in Mumbai before of the company’s board meeting on Wednesday. He is thought to have asked it to consider keeping the business.

CHINA WANTS TO BECOME A GLOBAL PRICING CENTER FOR COMMODITIES

China has put the world’s traditional financial centers on notice that it wants to develop its raw material markets as hubs for setting prices, seeking to marry the country’s commercial heft with a much greater say in determining how much commodities cost.

“We’re facing a chance of a lifetime to become a global pricing center for commodities,” Fang Xinghai, vice chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, said at the Shanghai Futures Exchange’s annual conference in the city on Wednesday. “On the way to realize this goal, we’ll see very intense competition. We have the advantage of trading size and economic growth, but our legislation is still not sound and we lack enough talent.”

CAMERON SAYS TATA STEEL UK GETS "ENCOURAGING" OFFERS

Tata Steel has received a number of serious offers for its businesses in Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday as steel workers marched past Downing Street to put pressure on the government to get a deal.

Britain's steel industry has been hit by cheap Chinese imports, high energy costs and a global supply glut. In March, Tata said it wanted to sell its loss-making operation in the country, putting 15,000 jobs at risk.

Tata's decision has turned the spotlight on the global steel market and the impact of Chinese exports that could lead to protectionist trade policies.

USP PROPÕE TECNOLOGIAS PARA DESENVOLVIMENTO SUSTENTÁVEL DA MINERAÇÃO

Pesquisadores do Núcleo de Apoio de Pesquisa à Mineração Responsável (NAP-Mineração), da Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo (Poli-USP), elaboraram um documento com oportunidades para o desenvolvimento sustentável da mineração de ferro no Quadrilátero Ferrífero, em Minas Gerais. 

Eles sugerem, no documento, que a Samarco desenvolva uma operação-piloto com as inovações propostas. 

TATA STEEL BIDS FAREWELL TO SCUNTHORPE WITH PRE-TAX LOSS OF 71 MILLION POUNDS

In their last year in charge of the Scunthorpe Tata Steel works, the Indian owners made a pre-tax loss of £71 million on its European operations.

The loss for the year ending March 31 of £71 million announced today (May 25) compared to a £435 million profit in 2014-15.

Tata Steel Europe's fortunes however started to improve in the last quarter of the year when losses were £37 million compared to £68 million in the three months prior.

Turn-over for the year at £6.87 billion was well down on the 2014-15 figure of £8.11 billion.

INSTITUTO AÇO BRASIL CONTESTA ALEGAÇÕES DE IMPORTADORES NO CADE

Após abertura de processo administrativo contra o Instituto Aço Brasil (IABr), para investigar suposto exercício abusivo do direito de petição com finalidade anticompetitiva, a entidade responde que "carecem de fundamento as alegações colocadas pela Abrifa junto ao Cade (Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica), de que o Aço Brasil quer impedir as importações". Na terça-feira, 24, foi publicada no Diário Oficial a instauração do processo, após denúncia apresentada pela Associação Brasileira das Empresas Importadoras e Fabricantes de Aço (Abrifa).

A associação, em sua denúncia, afirmou que o IABr teria ajuizado diversas ações judiciais para impedir a importação de vergalhões de aço por empresas estabelecidas no mercado brasileiro. O IABr, por sua vez, destaca que os "vergalhões têm finalidade estrutural, requisito este essencial para a segurança das construções e proteção à vida das pessoas".

Assim, explica, os vergalhões possuem certificação obrigatória e o que foi feito, segundo o Instituto, foi "solicitar aos poderes constituídos que se averiguasse a qualidade dos vergalhões importados, de acordo com os mesmos procedimentos a que são submetidos os vergalhões produzidos no País".

"Periodicamente são coletadas amostras em todo o território nacional e encaminhadas a ensaios para a verificação da conformidade, sejam produtos nacionais ou importados", afirma o IABr, em nota

TATA STEEL GROUP NARROWS CONSOLIDATED NET LOSSES

Tata Steel Group on Wednesday narrowed its consolidated net losses to Rs 3,214 crore for the March quarter, down from Rs 5,674 crore in the year-ago period, hurt by a Rs 2,800-crore writedowns and impairment costs towards its struggling global operations.

On the back of still lower alloy prices, total revenue from operations also came down 12% to Rs 29,508 crore on lower steel prices from Rs 33,666 crore a year ago.

MALAYSIA IMPLEMENTS DEFINITIVE ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES ON IMPORTS OF CRC FROM CHINA, KOREA AND JAPAN

Malaysia has officially implemented definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of alloy and non-alloy cold rolled coil (CRC) from China, South Korea and Vietnam.

MEXICO REVIEWS CRC IMPORT QUOTA DEAL WITH KOREA'S HYUNDAI STEEL

The Mexican government has launched a review of a cold rolled coil (CRC) import quota agreement with South Korea’s Hyundai Steel.

REBAR CLOSES DOWN 1,3% IN SHANGAI FUTURES EXCHANGE

Rebar, or reinforcing bar used in construction, closed down 1.3 percent at 1,916 yuan ($292) a tonne on the Shanghai Futures Exchange. It touched 1,912 yuan earlier, the lowest since March 4.

Rebar has fallen more than 31 percent from its highest point in April when a rally fueled by faith in China's economy, low inventories and seasonal demand pushed rebar to its highest since September 2014.

IRON ORE AND STEEL FUTURES DROP TO 12-WEEK LOWS

Iron ore and steel futures in China dropped to 12-week lows on Wednesday, reflecting further pressure in glut-hit markets that have fallen nearly a third from last month's peaks.

Softening demand for steel in China, the world's top consumer, following a seasonal pickup could push mills to curb production again, traders said.

Many mills shut down over the past year in response to weak demand and some of them resumed output as prices rallied in April.

"We might see some cut in production, even from the big state-owned mills," said an iron ore trader in Shanghai.

Rebar, or reinforcing bar used in construction, closed down 1.3 percent at 1,916 yuan ($292) a tonne on the Shanghai Futures Exchange. It touched 1,912 yuan earlier, the lowest since March 4.

Rebar has fallen more than 31 percent from its highest point in April when a rally fueled by faith in China's economy, low inventories and seasonal demand pushed rebar to its highest since September 2014.  

CSN ASSEGURA PRESENÇA DE SEUS DOIS CONSELHEIROS NO CONSELHO DA USIMINAS

A CSN conseguiu na manhã desta quarta-feira derrubar a liminar que impedia a participação de seus dois conselheiros na reunião do conselho de administração da Usiminas.

Na reunião do Conselho, foi anunciada a escolha de Sérgio Leite como novo presidente da Usiminas, contrariando o desejo da Nipon Steel & Sumimoto, que defendia a permanência de Romel de Souza no cargo.

Os dois representantes da CSN no conselho são Gesner de Oliveira e Ricardo Weis.

TURKEY'S IRON ORE IMPORTS RISE 9% IN THE FIRST QUARTER

In March this year, Turkey's iron ore imports totaled 1.04 million metric tons, down 5.45 percent month on month and rising 9% in the 1st quarter.

METINVEST, FROM UKRAINE, REPORTS NET LOSS OF US$ 1 BILLION

In 2015, Metinvest (Ukraine) recorded a net loss of $1 billion compared to a net profit of $159 million in 2014.

TAIWAN'S BASIC METAL EXPORTS DOWN 15.3%

In the January-April period of the current year, Taiwan's basic metal and basic metal product export orders declined by 15.3 percent year on year

USIMINAS ESCOLHE SÉRGIO LEITE COMO NOVO PRESIDENTE

O conselho de administração da Usiminas escolheu nesta quarta-feira Sérgio Leite como novo presidente, em substituição a Romel de Souza.

Sérgio Leite era vice-presidente comercial da companhia.

A escolha de Sérgio Leite contraria a Nipon Steel, acionista da Usiminas, que defendia a permanência de Romel de Souza no cargo. 

USIMINAS PICKS SERGIO LEITE AS ITS NEW CEO

Usiminas has picked veteran executive Sergio Leite as its new CEO, a source briefed on the matter said on Wednesday, as the Brazilian flat steelmaker battles to turn around a business hurt by a steep recession, foreign imports and rising debt.

Six of the 11 board members of Usiminas endorsed Leite as chief executive at a meeting on Wednesday, according to the source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. Three others rejected his nomination and the rest abstained, the source said.

The media office of Belo Horizonte-based Usiminas, Brazil's largest publicly traded maker of flat steel products, declined to comment on the matter.

Apart from controlling shareholders Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp and Techint Group, the Usiminas board includes representatives of its employees, pensioners and minority shareholders, including rival Cia Siderúrgica Nacional SA.

HRC TEM QUEDA DE 0,3% NOS EUA, PARA US$ 607

Os preços do HRC nos Estados Unidos caíram 0,3% em média na semana passada, para uma cotação de US$ 607 por tonelada curta.

Os preços e variação média no período, segundo o TSI, foram:


- Norte da Europa (€/tonne) 419 +0.7%

- Sul da Europa (€/tonne) 423 +1.2%

- EUA(US$/t curta) 607 -0.3%

- Ásia (importações do grupo Asean)(US$/tonne) 381 +1.6%

CANADA DETERMINES INJURY EXISTS IN LINE PIPE IMPORTS FROM CHINA AND JAPAN

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal determined that there is a reasonable indication that there is dumping and subsidizing in line pipe exports from China and Japan to Canada.

SPACESAVER ACQUIRES VIKING METAL CABINET

The Spacesaver Corp. has expanded its museum storage lines with the acquisition of Viking Metal Cabinet Co., Plainfield, Ill. The acquisition allows Spacesaver to offer design, installation, and maintenance of metal museum cabinets, shelving, art racks, custom components, and compact storage systems.

Spacesaver will begin manufacturing Viking’s line of metal museum cabinets later this year at its Fort Atkinson, Wis., headquarters.

TATA STEEL SAYS EVALUATING BIDS FOR UK ASSET SALE

Mumbai Tata Steel Ltd is evaluating bids for British assets it has put on sale, India's biggest steelmaker said on Wednesday, reporting a smaller fourth-quarter net loss of $478 million.

In March, Tata Steel said it wanted to sell its loss-making operation in Britain, putting 15,000 jobs at risk and highlighting the impact of cheap Chinese imports, high energy costs and a global supply glut.

Earlier on Wednesday, UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who is under pressure to save local jobs, said Tata had received an "encouraging number" of offers but also warned that there were no guarantees of a successful conclusion.

HRC PRICES FALL 0.3 IN THE U.S., TO US$ 607

HRC prices went down 0.3% in the U.S. last week, to an average of US$ 607 per short ton.

The prices and variation in the main markets, according to TSI, were:

- North Europe (€/tonne) 419 +0.7%

- S.Europe (€/tonne) 423 +1.2%

- USA (US$/short ton) 607 -0.3%

- Asean Imports (US$/tonne) 381 +1.6%

INDÚSTRIA MUNDIAL DE AÇO PEDE QUE G7 PROTEJA SETOR CONTRA A CHINA

Doze associações de produtores de aço do mundo divulgaram nesta quarta-feira cartas pedindo que evitem que o aço barato da China cause problemas para o mercado mundial.

O G7 vai se reunir a partir desta quinta-feira no Japão.

GLOBAL STEEL INDUSTRY CALLS ON G7 TO PROTECT IT FROM CHINA

Twelve global steel associations urged the Group of Seven advanced economies, which meet in Japan this week, to prevent cheap Chinese steel distorting world markets and inflicting further pain on producers.

Steelmakers have been hit by a plunge in steel prices, which Europe and the United States have blamed on a surge in cheap exports from China that has exacerbated the impact of a collapse in demand following economic crisis.

Among the casualties are Tata Steel, which in March announced it was selling its British operations as it could no longer sustain deep losses, prompting a political scramble to save the thousands of jobs at stake.

The White House has already said discussion of actions to reduce global industrial overcapacity, with an emphasis on the steel glut, would be on the agenda for Japan talks starting on Thursday.

Open letters made public on Wednesday to world leaders from 12 steel industry bodies and other manufacturers said that discussion must include action against countries that do not respect market economy conditions, especially China, and oversupply had to be tackled.

MINÉRIO DE FERRO DE CARAJÁS VAI A US$ 65

O minério de ferro de Carajás foi cotado a quase US$ 65 a tonelada nesta quinta-feira em porto chinês.

A informação é da NMB.

IRON ORE FROM CARAJÁS REACHES US$ 65

Iron ore from Carajás had the price of US$ 65 per tonne this Wednesday in China.

The information is from NMB.

MINÉRIO DE FERRO CAI 2%, PARA US$ 50,41

O preço do minério de ferro caiu quase 2% nesta quarta-feira, para US$ 50,41 por t.

A cotação é para o produto 62% negociado em Qingdao, segundo o Metal Bulletin.

IRON DROPS 2%, TO US$ 50.41

Iron ore price fell almost 2% this Wednesday, to US$ 50.41 per tonne.

The price is for the product 62% negotiated in Qingdao, according to the Metal Bulletin.

TOKYO STEEL CUTS SCRAP PRICES AGAIN, BY US$ 9-14

Japanese steelmaker Tokyo Steel has once more lowered its H2-grade scrap purchase prices at all five of its units, this time by ¥1,000-1,500 ($9-14) per tonne, Steel First has learnt.

SAUDI ARABIA HRC IMPORTERS HOLD BACK FOR FURTHER PRICE FALLS

Importers of hot rolled coil (HRC) into Saudi Arabia preferred to postpone their bookings this week, Steel First has heard, as they wanted to see if prices have more room to fall.

CHINA'S STEEL OUTPUT DIPPED 2.3%, TO 261.4 MILLION TONS, IN JAN-APRIL

China's crude steel output dipped 2.3 percent year-on-year to 261.42 million tons in the January-April period, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced Wednesday. 

Production fell 1.3 percent in the year-earlier period.

In April alone, crude steel output gained 0.5 percent year-on-year to 69.42 million tons, compared with a 0.7 percent decline in the same period in 2015.

Steel prices picked up sharply in April, with the domestic steel price index gaining 11.29 points from March to 78.42 and rising 4.43 points from a year earlier, according to the NDRC. 

JUSTIÇA DEVE JULGAR PROCESSOS CONTRA SAMARCO, DIZ PROCURADORIA

A Procuradoria Geral da República (PGR) sugeriu ontem (24) ao Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ) que a Justiça Federal julgue os processos que apuram os crimes ambientais e as 19 mortes provocadas pelo rompimento da barragem de Fundão, da Samarco. 

O acidente aconteceu no distrito de Bento Rodrigues, em Mariana (MG), em 5 de novembro de 2015.

CHINA'S NEW ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS HAVE POSITIVE IMPACT, SAYS STUDY

China’s new environmental law, which came into force at the start of 2015, has had a significant impact in its first year, according to a study by the China University of Political Science and Law. China’s increasingly strict environmental enforcement is now a key driver of investment in the steel industry, Kallanish notes.

One measurable impact has been on project approvals, the report notes. Whereas before many projects proceeded with minimal thought to environmental licencing, or in some cases without any licence whatsoever, the new laws make it increasingly difficult to ignore environmental authorities. Environmental authorities approved 159 projects with a total investment of CNY 1.5 trillion ($229 billion) in the first year of the new laws. They also rejected 21 projects with an investment value of CNY 117 billion, giving a rejection rate of 13.2%.

The new laws have given teeth to environmental authorities to back up the already high pollution standards. These include the ability to impose daily-recurring fines on polluting companies. In 2015, authorities issued fines in 715 cases, with a total value of CNY 569.54 million, not including some data from Shandong province. Authorities also recorded 4,191 cases of detention of company officials or seizure of assets.

TATA BOARD MEETS TO CONSIDER UK STEEL BIDS

The board of Indian steel giant Tata is meeting to weigh up bids for its business employing thousands of workers in the UK.

Prime Minister David Cameron said there had been an encouraging number of serious offers for the assets and that the Government was doing everything it could to help - though there were no guarantees of a successful conclusion to the process.

The board meeting in India comes as hundreds of steelworkers march in London to highlight the crisis in the industry - with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn there to promise his support in their fight for the industry's future.

Thousands of jobs have been lost in a series of plant closures as the sector buckles under pressure from cheap Chinese imports and unions want ministers to do more to fight off the threat.

STEELWORKERS MARCH THROUGH WESTMINSTER AS TATA CONSIDERS BIDS FOR UK PLANTS

Hundreds of steelworkers have marched through Westminster to highlight the crisis in their industry, as a shortlist of bidders is drawn up for the UK assets of Tata Steel.

Tata's board will meet in Mumbai on Wednesday to discuss the bids. Business Secretary Sajid Javid and Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones have travelled to India for the meeting.

U.S. CRC PRICE FLAT AT US$ 810-830

US cold-rolled coil price assessment flat at $810-$830/st.

The information is from Platts.

HRC PRICES UP AT US$ 610-630 IN THE U.S.

HRC prices up slightly in US market at $610-$630/st.

The information is from Platts.

CSI RAISES SHEET PRICE US$ 130-150

CSI raising sheet prices $130-$150/st for August.

The information is from Platts.

ARCELORMITTAL'S SALDANHA PLANT TO KEEP OPERATING

ArcelorMittal's Saldanha plant will keep operating, its chairman said on Wednesday after the facility was placed under review earlier this year due to low steel prices and rising costs.

The plant, north of Cape Town is the newest in the company’s fleet and was opened in 1998 to focus specifically on steel exports, but low steel prices and high electricity and transport costs made it unprofitable last year.

"As the board, we are comfortable that we will have a Saldanha that is a good, healthy, performing business for a long period," said ArcelorMittal SA’s chairman, Mpho Makwana.

CHINESE CURRENCY AT LOWEST LEVEL AGAINST U.S. DOLLAR

On May 25, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) announced a further devaluation of the Chinese currency to RMB 6.5693 against the US dollar.

TURKISH STEEL MILLS CONTINUE TO WAIT BEFORE CONCLUDING SCRAP PURCHASES

Turkish steel mills continue to wait and see before concluding scrap purchases.

Buyers in the import scrap market in Turkey are still unwilling to conclude new scrap deals as they wait to see clearer price levels for their finished steel sales

VALE DEVE TIRAR AÇÕES DE HONG KONG DIA 28 DE JULHO

A Vale informou nesta terça-feira que deve cancelar a listagem de suas ações na Bolsa de Hong Kong no dia 28 de julho.

Em abril, a Vale tinha anunciado a decisão de tirar o papel daquela bolsa.

VALE SAYS DELISTING SHARES IN HONG KONG ON JULY 28

Vale SA said it would delist shares in Hong Kong on July 28 as part of its strategy of simplification, according to a securities filing on Tuesday. 

BRAZIL'S GIANT CORRUPTION PROBE ENSNARES U.S. STEEL VENTURE AND REACHES PITTSBURGH

Ripples from Brazil’s giant graft probe are reaching Pittsburgh, where U.S. Steel Corp. is looking into accusations that one of its local ventures paid bribes.

Police and prosecutors are investigating pipe supplier Apolo Tubulars SA, owned 50 percent by U.S. Steel, as well as Luxembourg-based Tenaris SA’s Confab unit, for suspected involvement in a scheme to win contracts at state-controlled oil company Petrobras, officials said Tuesday.

The companies allegedly paid about 40 million reais ($11 million) in bribes from 2009 to 2013, prosecutors including Roberson Pozzobon told reporters in Curitiba, Brazil. A recording of the statements was posted on YouTube.

“We are reviewing this matter and are in contact with Apolo,” Sarah Cassella, a spokeswoman for U.S. Steel, said in an e-mailed response. It obtained a 50 percent interest in Apolo via the 2007 acquisition of Lone Star Technologies Inc.

SAMARCO PREPARES UP TO 3,000 LAYOFFS, SAYS UNION

Samarco is preparing to lay off workers, according to an union from the State of Minas Gerais.

The union says that there will between 1,200 and 3,000 layoffs in June.

SAMARCO PREPARA DEMISSÃO DE ATÉ 3 MIL, DIZ SINDICATO

A mineradora Samarco, que teve suas operações interrompidas em novembro de 2015 devido ao rompimento de uma de suas barragens em Mariana (MG), se prepara para efetuar demissões. 

Segundo o sindicato da categoria que abrange os empregados da mineradora, espera-se que as dispensas atinjam entre 1.200 e 3.000 empregados da Samarco em junho, quando termina o segundo período de layoff.

TERNIUM SUBSCREVE AÇÕES NO AUMENTO DE CAPITAL DA USIMINAS

A Ternium informou que subscreveu ações no aumento de capital da Usiminas, reservando 38,7 milhões de ações ordinárias, em um valor total de 193,5 milhões de reais.

A companhia informou ainda que tem interesse em subscrever eventuais sobras papéis não reservados por acionistas "até um valor a ser especificado" mais adiante na operação de aumento de capital.

A CSN tomou iniciativa semelhante na segunda-feira.

PERU DECLARES EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF MERCURY CONTAMINATION

Peru’s government declared an emergency across a broad jungle region Monday because of mercury contamination caused by wildcat gold mining.

The 60-day decree affects 11 districts in the Madre de Dios region bordering Brazil where studies carried out by Stanford University and others have found high levels of the toxic element in people, rivers and fish.

CONTAMINAÇÃO POR MERCÚRIO FAZ PERU DECRETAR ESTADO DE EMERGÊNCIA

O Peru declarou estado de emergência em 11 distritos da região amazônica de Madre de Dios (sudeste), ao detectar níveis de mercúrio acima do permitido na população - conforme publicação no Diário Oficial.

A alteração nos níveis desse elemento decorre da intensa atividade mineira artesanal na zona, que também destrói rios e solos.

Segundo relatório apresentado ao governo por autoridades ambientais, foi detectada a "contaminação por mercúrio nas águas dos rios, em espécies hidrobiológicas e na população, com níveis superiores aos limites máximos permitidos".

MICROLIGAS DE NIÓBIO MELHORAM DESEMPENHO DO AÇO, DIZ ESPECIALISTA

A aplicação de microligas de nióbio, metal resistente à corrosão e a temperaturas extremas, melhora significativamente o desempenho do aço. 

A afirmação é de Hardy Mohrbacher, sócio-diretor da NiobelCon, consultoria da Bélgica especializada em design de liga e otimização para aço, ferro fundido, metais duros e alumínio.

ARRIUM, FROM SOUTH AFRICA, SHOULD BE SOLD "WHOLE", SAYS TREASURER

Taxpayer support for embattled steelmaker Arrium would be pulled if the sale of the company was to the detriment of Whyalla, the home of its steelworks, South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis has warned.

Arrium will go on the market in July after going into administration with debts of about $4.3 billion.

Administrator KordaMentha has asked for hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal support to make the Whyalla steelworks attractive for the sale.

FUTURE OF BRITAIN'S STEEL INDUSTRY MAY BE DECIDED THIS WEDNESDAY

The future of Britain’s steel industry could be decided as early as Wednesday as Tata’s board gathers in India to examine bids for its troubled UK operations.

Executives from the conglomerate will meet in Mumbai to discuss rescue bids to take on the troubled UK steel business centred around the Port Talbot plant, which has run up losses of as much as £1m a day.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid flew to India for several hours of talks with Tata’s directors on Tuesday evening ahead of the board meeting. Taking part in the talks – which one person present described as “encouraging” - were Tata group chairman Cyrus Mistry and executive director Koushilk Chatterjee.

PREÇO DA SUCATA VOLTA A CAIR E VAI A US$ 209 NA CHINA; QUEDA FOI DE 13% EM TAIWAN PARA US$ 200

Os preços da sucata ferrosa continuaram a cair na China nesta terça-feira.

A cotação do produto na região leste do país recuou para US$ 209 por t.

Assim, os preços da sucata já caíram cerca de 20% desde o início deste mês de maio.

O preço é para o produto de 6mm ou mais, incluindo 17% de imposto por valor agregado, entregue na província de Zhangjiagang Jiangsu, segundo dados do S&P Global Platts.

Em Taiwan, a queda de preço da sucata foi ainda maior nesta terça-feira: o produto despencou 13%, para US$ 200.

FERROUS SCRAP PRICES FALL AGAIN AND GOES TO US$ 209; DECREASE OF 20% SINCE THE BEGINNING OF MAY

On Tuesday ferrous scrap prices in eastern China (heavy melting scrap 6mm and above thick, including 17% value-added tax, delivered to Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province) continued to slide hitting $209 a tonne – down nearly 20% since the beginning of May according to S&P Global Platts data.

The fall in Taiwanese import scrap has been even more dramatic. A 13% drop on Tuesday to $200 brought the price decline over the past month to 32%.

IRON ORE AND STEEL FUTURES FELL TO 12-WEEK LOWS

Iron ore and steel futures in China fell to 12-week lows on Tuesday as sputtering steel demand has trapped traders that restocked heavily during last month's price rally with unwanted products.

The two commodity futures have lost 30 percent from their peaks in April when bets fuelled by faith in the world's No. 2 economy lifted volumes and prices and prompted China's commodity exchanges to impose trading curbs. Steel-making raw materials, coking coal and coke, tumbled about 6 percent at one point on Tuesday.

IRON ORE TUMBLED BY 22% THIS MONTH

Iron ore has pivoted from boom to gloom in a few short weeks. Benchmark prices are near $50 a metric ton as spectacular losses this month driven by rising supplies and a more cautious approach from mills in China have eviscerated April’s speculation-driven rally.

After surging 23 percent last month as China’s ill-fated frenzy gathered pace, the price has tumbled by 22 percent so far in May. Earlier, futures in Dalian dropped 0.9 percent, while the SGX AsiaClear contract rose.

LATIN AMERICA'S STEEL EXPORTS TO THE U.S. FELL TO 565,230 T IN APRIL

Latin America's steel exports to the US fell to 565,230t in April from 571,444t in the same month last year. 

BABCOCK & WILCOX CLOSES WEST POINT MANUFACTURING PLANT

North Carolina-based Babcock & Wilcox has announced it has ended production at its West Point industrial boiler manufacturing plant in Mississippi. The closure affects 165 workers, with 50 remaining to help wind down operations.

In 1998 the 250,000-sq.-ft. plant employed 700 people as the company’s only boiler manufacturing plant in the U.S.

The company cited increased global competition and increased federal regulations on coal and fossil fuels as factors in the decision to end production at the plant.