Website traffic statistics Pages viewed and unique visitors to BMI Online Month/ year Page views Unique visitors Jun '09 18,674 4,323 May '09 13,822 3,794 Apr '09 14,908 4,079 Mar '09 16,240 4,596 Feb '09 16,107 4,193 Jan '09 16,842 4,394 Dec '08 13,257 3,247 Nov '08 14,409 3,759 Oct '08 18,314 4,310 Sep '08 13,332 3,713 Aug '08 13,372 3,493 Jul '08 10,276 3,589 Jun '08 13,781 4,136 Jun '07 5,996 2,778 Jun '06 8,175 1,524 Jun '05 18,509 3,336 Bulk Materials International: For bulk handling and transportation professionals worldwide. Click here for our comprehensive browseable listings of bulk materials handling news and features Search:  Home | Archive | Upcoming Events | Publications | Free Email Alert | Sitemap Advertise | Subscribe | Back Issues | Sample Issue | Contact | My Account Headline news... Anglo American rejects Xstrata's merger proposal Mining group Anglo American has strongly rejected the merger plan put forward by Xstrata, saying that the proposal is "totally unacceptable" and not in the interest of Anglo American shareholders. More RBCT expansion delayed South Africa's Richards Bay Coal Terminal has said that completion of the Ra1.2B ($150M) expansion of its port facility has been postponed until the fourth quarter of this year from its scheduled 1 July target. More Newcastle exports down 17% Coal exports from Australia's Newcastle, the world's largest coal export port, have fallen 17%; the number of ships waiting outside the port is also down. More Doubts over Malagasy mining The new leader of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, has frozen all existing mining contracts in the country as one of his first actions in power. More China's iron ore miners under pressure China's investment in ore mining has surged since late last year, despite the global supply overhang, and hit Yuan 3.2B (US$470 M) in January and February, up 102% year on year. More More WA mines get OK Western Australia's environment minister Donna Faragher has given environmental approval to Pilbara junior miner Aurox Resources' 100%-owned iron ore project, located midway between Karratha and Port Hedland. More Cotecna to inspect Indonesia's iron/steel imports Cotecna, a leading international trade inspection, security and certification companies, has been officially appointed by Indonesia's KSO Sucofindo-Surveyor Indonesia (KSO SCISI) to handle the inspection of iron or steel shipments from Korea and Japan to Indonesia. More ICSG reports copper surplus The world copper market saw a surplus of about 50,000t for the first quarter of this year, compared with a 67,000t deficit in the same period in 2008. More Navios Holdings announces new-build agreement Global seaborne shipping and logistics company Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. has reached an agreement to acquire four Capesize vessels, three of which are from companies controlled by Commerzbank A.G. More ...Sishen South to proceed Kumba Iron Ore has revealed that despite the global economic crisis it will proceed with its Sishen South iron ore project in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. All 9mtpa of the new output to be brought on stream will be transported via the existing Sishen railway for export via the Atlantic port of Saldanha. More Pipavav ups efficiency India's Port Pipavav has proved its commitment to improving its operational efficiency by discharging 31,381t of coal in 24 hours in March, earning the praise of the customer, Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Limited. More Assayer begins new era as Stewart Group Alex Stewart, the international inspection, analysis and assaying group has announced its full rebrand to Stewart Group. More MoorMaster for key iron ore load port Maritime systems innovator, Cavotec MSL, has received the largest order to date for its vacuum-based automated mooring solution, MoorMaster, from the Port Hedland Port Authority (PHPA) in Western Australia. More Cement wagons reduce road traffic The UK's first aluminium bogie cement wagons have celebrated their first year of service, having moved more than 150,000t of cement in the 12-month period from April 2008-2009 for Hanson Cement, which changed its name from Castle Cement in March to reflect its position as a division of Hanson UK. More Oz mineral exports to crash Canberra's commodity forecaster has predicted a 22% decline in Australia's export earnings from mineral resources in 2009-10 but a 12% rise in farm exports. More End of iron ore price benchmark system? The annual iron ore price benchmark contract system may be scrapped as producers seek individual arrangements, Deutsche Bank said. More China Union signs contract for Bong iron ore project China Union has signed a contract to develop the Bong iron ore project in Lower Bong County of the West African state of Liberia following a competitive tender that attracted ten bids. More Russia creates 'corn Gazprom' Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has signed a decree for the establishment of the United Grain Company (OZK) by the end of 2009. More Transnet/Kumba mull PPP... It has been reported in South Africa that Kumba Iron Ore is again in talks with Transnet over the creation of a public private partnership (PPP) to manage the transport of dry bulk exports in South Africa. More Gleadell boosts fertiliser import programme Gleadell Agriculture is advancing its granular urea import programme to help meet firm demand from the UK agribusiness sector. More Demand for steel down 30% in Europe Steel demand in Europe fell 30% in the first quarter of this year and will see further "significant decline" in the second quarter, according to industry lobby group Eurofer. More Hamburg posts waterway record The volume of goods carried between the Port of Hamburg and the hinterland by inland waterway vessel in 2008 exceeded all previous levels, and now stands at 12.2 mt, a 1.5% increase on the operating results of the previous year. More New bulk terminal for Qasim Port Qasim Authority (PQA) is in talks with Pakistan International Container Terminal Limited (PICT) to develop a US$175M coal and cement terminal at the port by 2011. More Scrap handling in Russian Far East under threat The Russian Federal Customs Service has designated Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky, located on the Kamchatka peninsula, as the only port in the country's Far East that can export metal scrap. According to Russian industry experts, this ruling may kill the region's scrap business. More  Feature articles Dust pollution solutions Dust creation is a key issue when handling bulk materials, as it constitutes a severe risk for health, safety and the environment. Increased focus on these combined with strengthened regulations have resulted in a growing need for dust handling equipment. More Cranes fit for purpose in bulk terminals Last year was another year-onyear record for mobile harbour cranes, with the three main suppliers reporting new order intake or deliveries of 207 machines. More Black Sea port investment shelved International trade liberalisation and increasing trade flows between Asia and Europe have long been expected to boost turnover at Black Sea ports. More Belt conveyors overcome the impassable Belt conveyors enable the efficient transport of a variety of bulk materials over even the most difficult terrains. More Front loaders accelerate from boom to gloom Manufacturers of front loaders are facing deteriorating market conditions but this has not stopped them from developing new models ready for the predicted upturn. More False economy of inadequate sampling Correct sampling procedures, whether carried out by a company's own mechanical equipment and laboratory facilities or by a thirdparty inspection organisation, will safeguard against penalties while maximising profits. More Specifying dust control for bulk materials handling* Dust suppression has be come an increasingly important challenge in bulk materials handling operations, with raised awareness and tighter regulatory standards both contributing motivation for the industry to find efficient, cost-effective methods of particle control. More China looks to imports Power companies in China are seeking their coal supplies abroad as price negotiations with domestic coal producers continue to falter. More Not all gloom and doom for engineers No-on can ignor the current recession, but leading Italian suppliers are still winning important contracts. More Global recession takes its toll The current economic downturn is affecting many industries, not least the production of alumina and aluminium. More Coal market prospects India looks set to import more tonnages of both steam and coking coal this year. The growing volumes of coal handled necessitate that suppliers and users focus on seeking improvements to all sections of the supply chain. More Well stocked, but orders needed Although the major mining groups are cutting back investments as demand slumps, there are still sufficient projects underway to maintain strong order books for stackers/ reclaimers - but next year may prove difficult. More Fast track for rail upgrades There has been a spate of news reports during the last few months concerning investment in rail freight infrastructure around the world as outdated rail networks are upgraded and expanded. More India: imports essential to meet power demand The growing disparity between India's coal supply and demand is forcing power companies and other users to source supplies abroad. More Coal maintains its lead as UK trade slows Following a busy year, the UK's ports are bracing themselves for a downturn in volumes. However, not all bulk cargoes are expected to be hit hard by the global recession. More Grab manufacturers: paying attention to the design detail Performance is key where grabs are concerned, with handling rates and reliability key considerations in their design and manufacture. More Conveying it more reliably All categories of bulk conveyor - whether belt conveyors, other types of mechanical conveyor, or pneumatic transfer systems - continue to break new ground in terms of versatility, reliability and energy efficiency. More Mixed fortunes for Baltic seaports A new regional study presents a generally favourable outlook, but not everyone will have a share of the benefits. More Iron Boomerang next grand plan A Brisbane-based company has launched a highly ambitious plan for an east-west railway and associated industry it describes as "one of the largest industrial projects in the world." More Ukraine prepares for grain export boom The growing global demand for agri-bulk is being felt in Ukraine, where increased grain exports are resulting in the development and growth of grain handling facilities. More All contents © WCN Publishing, Northbank House, 5 Bridge Street, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8BL, England.