Usually all good things must come to an end, although there’s one man in the minerals business whose “good thing” continues to last, even after decades longer than most others in the industry.
On 15 May 2022, Bernhard Krüger, these days a Member of the Supervisory Board at Cofermin Group, celebrates a magnificent 60 years in […]
US Ceramics assets add processing & logistics capabilities for refractory, proppant, & flame retardant markets
Emerging non-metallurgical bauxite producer, First Bauxite LLC (FBX), which is exploiting the Bonasika high purity gibbsitic bauxite deposit in Guyana, has greatly reinforced and expanded its production potential by acquiring ceramic proppant producer US Ceramics LLC (USC).
Title image Bauxite to Burn: […]
US demand tight | International growth | Frac sand surge | Barite India & Nigeria
The oilfield market for industrial minerals – such as barite, bentonite, silica sand, calcium carbonate, graphite, and bauxite – used in a range of applications including drilling fluids, stimulation, and well cementing – appears to be entering a period of strong […]
Ceramic clay supply cut off | Tile producers’ stocks running out | Graphite expansion on hold
As the Russia-Ukraine war tragically passes its 50th day, with still no end in sight, industrial mineral supply chains and markets continue facing widespread disruption and uncertainty.
Since the war started on 24 February 2022, many industrial mineral companies we have talked […]
We are delighted to announce that ANFRE, Spain (National Association of Manufacturers of Refractories, Materials and Related Services) and IMFORMED, have joined forces to present the:
XI European Congress of Refractory Raw Materials, Machinery & Installation
Hotel Condes, Barcelona, 11-12 May 2022
A stimulating conference focusing on key aspects of the refractory raw materials industry and enabling an […]
Review of China Refractory Minerals Forum 2021 ONLINE
As we head towards the Chinese New Year of the Tiger (1 February 2022), it is timely to review some of the key issues influencing the supply of Chinese refractory raw materials to global markets.
Title Image Peak Magnesite: PRCO’s Kamado high purity, and high altitude (4,200 metres), magnesite deposit, […]
Oil & Gas Market | Barite | Bentonite | Pollucite/Caesium Formate | Gilsonite
While it wasn’t quite the usual fizz and excitement of our annual in-person event in Houston where we bring together the great and the good of the world’s oilfield minerals industry for a networking and knowledge extravaganza, our virtual version earlier this year, Oilfield […]
Being designated a “critical mineral” in the EU and more recently in the USA has certainly assisted fluorspar’s standing as an exploration target.
However, those already in the market have known for some years now that mine closures and production capacity reductions in the West combined with China becoming a net importer, a growing consumer, with […]
China Crisis Deepens | Refra-Horn Recycling JV | Cofermin Magnesia Arm | Alumina Issues
Last week’s 64th International Refractories Colloquium held in Aachen, organised by the European Centre for Refractories gGmbH (ECREF) was a somewhat surreal experience: a mix of euphoria and novelty in finally reconnecting with each other again face to face (or mask to […]
Supply & Demand | China | CO2 Reduction | Sensor Sorting | Process Costs | Digitisation | Dolomite | Synthetic MgO | Trading | Chemical Markets
In what has proved to be another most challenging year for magnesia minerals supply and markets, we review the highlights and key take-aways of IMFORMED’s MagForum 2021 ONLINE which took […]
