Headline news... Mercuria acquires Colombian river barge company
Mercuria Energy Trading, one of the world's largest independent energy traders, has bought a river barge business in Colombia from the leading Colombian company Argos. MoreKrishnapatnam Port sets coal discharge record
Krishnapatnam Port, on India's east coast, says that it has established an all-new record for coal discharge in India 'using the conventional system of coal unloading for ports in India.' MoreIron ore via the Northern Sea
NORDIC BARENTS, a modern heavy (1A) ice-class ship operated by Denmark's Nordic Bulk Carriers (NBC), is set to become the first non-Russian flag bulker to ply the Northern Sea Route. MoreXstrata makes A$428M bid for Sphere
Xstrata subsidiary Sidero Pty Limited has agreed to pay A$428M (US$383M) in an all-cash offer for Australian iron ore developer Sphere Minerals Ltd. MoreRio Tinto to invest additional US$790M in Pilbara
Rio Tinto is to invest a further US$790M in its drive to expand the annual capacity of iron ore operations in the Pilbara to 330 mt. MoreApproval of Arthur River project mining lease
AIM-listed resource company Beacon Hill Resources has announced a further development of its Arthur River magnesite project in north-west Tasmania, with the formal grant of a Mining Lease by the Government of Tasmania. MorePotashCorp rejects BHP Billiton's US$40B bid
Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (PotashCorp) has announced that its Board of Directors has received and unanimously rejected an unsolicited proposal from BHP Billiton to enter into a transaction under which BHP Billiton would acquire PotashCorp for US$130 per share in cash. MoreRio Tinto confirms next stage of Simandou development
Rio Tinto has advanced to the next stage of developing its world-class Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, approving US$170M of further funding for mine, rail and port infrastructure work. MoreNCIG completes financing for port expansion
Construction of the second stage of the third coal export terminal in the Port of Newcastle will begin immediately following completion of finance arrangements. MoreBeacon Hill signs mobile coal wash plant deal
AIM-listed resource company Beacon Hill Resources has signed a contract with PJ Technology of South Africa to supply a temporary 20,000t/month capacity mobile wash plant for its Minas Moatize coal mine in the Tete Province of Mozambique. MoreVales Goro produces its first nickel metal
Vale announces that the Goro project, located in New Caledonia in the South Pacific, has successfully produced its first nickel metal product. MoreXstrata Board approves US$1.1B Ulan West coal project
The Xstrata Plc Board has approved the investment of US$1.1B to develop the Ulan West underground thermal coal mine in the central west of New South Wales, Australia. MoreNew alliance for dry-bulk handling
Logmarin Advisors have joined forces with Bedeschi and Liebherr to form a new strategic business alliance. MoreEssar to mechanise multi-user berth at Paradip
India's Essar Bulk Terminal Paradip (EBTP) has signed a licence agreement with the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) to mechanise the multi-user berth to handle 16 mt of dry and bulk cargo annually. MoreAllison announces upgrade
Allison has extended its 6000 series fully automatic transmissions with the 6620 transmission. MoreUkraine expands iron ore exports
Ukraine increased its iron ore export during Q1 2010 by 3.6mt or 53% y/y to 7.55 mt, including 4.87 mt by sea (up 57% y/y). Data from the domestic ore producers' association UkrRudProm shows that export of iron-ore concentrate grew by 85% to 3.25 mt, pellets by 13.3% to 2.54 mt, sintering ore by 40% to 1.32 mt and agglomerate from 0 to 439,000t. MoreBig industry bid for Qld coal rail
A consortium of 13 Queensland coal producers has lodged a A$4.85B cash offer for the state's coal rail network, in what it hopes will be "an offer too good to refuse". MoreMore Hybrilift cranes from Mantsinen
Finland-based Mantsinen has extended its range of ropeless, hydraulic cranes using its energy-saving HybriLift drive system. MoreRUD-Erlau launches new TPC range
Germany-based RUD-Erlau, a leading tyre protection chain (TPC) and traction chain specialist, has introduced the type TORO X19, aimed at lowprofile loaders. MoreKumba looks for iron ore resolution
South African mining company Kumba Resources and ArcelorMittal South Africa are in dispute over a long-term iron ore supply contract. MoreRussians disembark in Normandy port
UralChem, one of Russia's leading mineral fertilisers producers, is extending its operations into the global market. The company's ambitious plan includes exporting its manures via Latvia and France to further destinations. MoreTaxing times for Oz projects
The Australian Government's decision to impose a 40% Resources Super Profits Tax has thrown a number of major mining projects into possible doubt as developers review the likely impact and the industry ramps up a campaign of opposition. MoreVale looks to Guinea
Despite ongoing political uncertainty in the West African state of Guinea, Vale has committed itself to the development of vast iron ore concessions in the country. MoreNew shiploader to boost Oz export capacity
The successful transportation and installation on Berth 2 of a new 51mhigh shiploader at Queensland's Abbot Point Coal Terminal represents an important milestone in the terminal's stage 3 (X50) expansion. MoreMaputo to tackle transport problems
The government of Mozambique has announced that it is to publish details of its plan to transport coal out of Tete Province for export. MoreChina steel mills to strike separate ore deals
China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) will allow steel mills to sign individual supply contracts with foreign miners, as it seemed to abandon efforts to preserve annual pricing that for months had appeared doomed. MoreHanjin in $162M transport deal
South Korea's Hanjin Shipping has won a contract worth US$156.2M from Korea Midland Power Co to transport 19.5 mt of coal until 2025 using an owned Panamax bulker. More
Feature articles
Major deal for Cavotec MSL
Global engineering group Cavotec MSL beat stiff competition to win a major order from Vale. MoreMulti-purpose shipping takes on a heavier role
A study recently published by the Dutch consultancy group Dynamar of breakbulk shipping* highlights the top ten operators in terms of order book for the heavy lift sector, which it defines as having a minimum lift capacity of 100t, and shows 107 ships on order (as of December 2009) aggregating 2.65 mt deadweight. MoreFertilisers promise steady growth
After a gloomy year for the international fertiliser industry, fertiliser demand is forecast to rebound in 2010 and grow at sustained rates over the next four years. MoreIs the tide turning for ARA ports?
Throughput at Europe's largest dry bulk port, Rotterdam, has increased sharply. In the first quarter of this year, 107 mt of goods were handled, 14% more than in the same period of 2009. MoreBagging progress weighed in the balance
Bulk weighing technology forms an integral part of bagging systems. We examine latest advances in both disciplines. MoreTesting times for South African exports
The South African mining industry had hoped that 2010 would be the year that coal exports got back on track. MoreRocky road paves the way for future growth
The pneumatic cement handling sector is experiencing an upturn, as confidence returns to the construction industry following the global financial meltdown. Meanwhile, the agri-bulk business is being underpinned by the potential in the biomass market. MoreFIBC bandwagon continues to roll
Despite the growing popularity of lined freight containers as a transport method for long-distance movement of powders and granulates, there is no sign that bulk bag usage is diminishing. Indeed, it continues to expand, while ancillary filling and discharge systems become ever more advanced. MoreChina's coal hunger to put a floor under prices
With China's dominance of the global coal market unchallenged, what are the issues affecting its domestic coal industry? MoreEnclosed belts in the ascendancy
Although there will always be a place for traditional overland belt conveyors, enclosedbelt systems are increasingly being specified where environmental protection assumes high priority or where there is a need to protect material from the weather. MoreGetting the measure of bulk materials
Inspection services carried out on dry bulk cargoes not only gauge consistency and quality but often, in the case of large tonnages loaded to or from ships, total weight as well - as a means of verifying the value of the bulk consignment. Here we report on the latest methodology in the quest to obtain a representative sample. MoreCoal shortage blamed on inadequate transportation
Substantial investment must be made in China's infrastructure if the logistical challenges of moving coal within the country are to be overcome. MoreMobile harbour cranes down, but not out
Last year was hardly a vintage year for mobile harbour cranes (MHCs), and the sector suffered along with many other materials handling equipment sectors because of the global economic downturn. MoreAutomation for large-scale dust control
Effective dust control is an important issue when handling bulk materials, not least because of tighter regulatory standards. Here we take a look at some of the dust suppression solutions available. MoreDifferent approaches to compliance
As from January 2011, EU Stage 3b, US-EPA Tier 4 interim (T4i) and Japan MLIT Step 4 emission regulations will apply to nonroad mobile machinery (NRMM) engines across the power range 130-515 kW (174-751 hp). MoreKrishnapatnam - the largest port on India's horizon?
The development of India's ports and infrastructure is crucial if the country is to be able to handle the forecast rise in its coal imports. MoreDrumming up new business
Manufacturers of stockyard handling systems are still maintaining active order books - both in the main stream coal and iron ore markets and also for specialised applications. MoreRail projects gather steam
The global recession hit rail companies hard, as demand for bulk commodities such as coal was affected. But green shoots of recovery are now appearing, with many rail companies announcing new haulage contracts. MoreUncertain future for UK coal market
Following several years of stability and steady growth, the UK coal market is entering a period of uncertainty as power generators await government guidelines on future energy policies. MoreStrengthening outlook for aluminium
Last year was a tough one for the global commodity markets and the aluminium industry was no exception. More
