Nonferrous

• Anglo reports 'solid' 3d qtr production levels Oct 26, 2012

  Anglo American Plc has reported a "solid operational performance" in the third quarter of 2012, with production increases across five of its seven commodities despite continuing disruptions at its platinum operations in South Africa.

• Eramet’s sales hit by manganese price fall Oct 26, 2012

  France’s Eramet SA reported a drop in nine-month revenue, which it attributed to a deteriorating price and market environment.

• High-carbon ferromanganese prices soften Oct 26, 2012

  High-carbon ferromanganese prices have softened as slow spot activity has led suppliers to take business at lower numbers, market participants told AMM.

• Cliffs delays Black Thor chromite project again Oct 26, 2012

  Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.’s Black Thor chromite project in northern Ontario could start up two years later than initially expected as the company looks to cut capital spending due to weak iron ore prices, its top executive said.

• Europe’s aluminum traders still finding 2013 mart murky Oct 26, 2012

  European aluminum traders are still in the dark about the 2013 market after recent industry events failed to reveal much about consumers’ plans for the year.

• Cynthia Carroll steps down as Anglo American chief Oct 26, 2012

  Cynthia Carroll has resigned as chief executive officer of Anglo American Plc after more than five years in the role, the company said Friday.

• Kaiser sees service centers’ aero orders falling in 4th qtr. Oct 26, 2012

  Kaiser Aluminum Corp. expects service centers’ orders for certain aerospace products to weaken in the fourth quarter due to seasonality.

• Grupo Mexico’s 3d-qtr. net hit by volatile metals tags Oct 26, 2012

  Grupo México SAB de CV’s third-quarter net income plummeted 53.8 percent year on year to $320.2 million on sales that fell 11.8 percent to nearly $2.4 billion.

• Copper fabricators write SEC against ETFs Oct 25, 2012

  A group of copper market participants opposed to the launch of physically backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has reiterated its objections in a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ahead of the agency’s Dec. 14 decision, according to a document filed with the SEC.

• Mitsui, Sumitomo dilute stake in VNC project Oct 25, 2012

  Mitsui & Co. Ltd. and Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. (SMM) have diluted their joint stake in the Vale New Caledonia (VNC) nickel-cobalt project as part of their decision to discontinue any further investment in it, Mitsui said Thursday.

• Plate, pipe imports hurting domestic market: Reliance Oct 25, 2012

  Executives at Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. think unfairly traded imports are disruptive to the domestic steel scene, primarily because their below-market pricing curtails the profitability of domestic product.

• Ball results flat as focus turns to specialty cans Oct 25, 2012

  Ball Corp. reported steady revenues in the third quarter and said it expects growth in the specialty aluminum can market to "mask the decline" of the 12-ounce can market in North America.

• Baja Mining waiting on bailout from investors Oct 25, 2012

  Baja Mining Corp. has not yet heard whether its Minera y Metalurgica del Boleo SA de CV (MMB) subsidiary will receive an $80-million bailout from Korean investors that would ensure its flagship Boleo Mine in Baja California Sur, Mexico, remain in development.

• Vale to divest non-value adding nickel assets Oct 25, 2012

  Vale SA will divest its non-value adding nickel assets, it said as it released its third-quarter earnings results Thursday.

• Noranda awaits Mo. power rate decision Oct 25, 2012

  Noranda Aluminum Holding Corp.’s New Madrid, Mo., smelter could see a change in its base power rate next year.

• Kaiser’s earnings jump sevenfold in third qtr. Oct 25, 2012

  Kaiser Aluminum Corp.’s net income increased more than sevenfold in the third quarter vs. the same period last year due to strong automotive and aerospace demand, improved pricing and better operating leverage.

• Orbite looks to process rare earths ahead of schedule Oct 25, 2012

  Orbite Aluminae Inc. will install a separation plant to process rare earth oxides at its high-purity alumina facility in Quebec as demand increases for the specialty materials, it said.

• Noranda hit by sinking LME, Hurricane Isaac in third qtr. Oct 24, 2012

  Noranda Aluminum Holding Corp.’s third-quarter 2012 net income plummeted 87.6 percent from the year-ago quarter as the price of aluminum on the London Metal Exchange declined and shipments were disrupted due to Hurricane Isaac earlier this summer.

• Noranda still feeling impact from 2009 storm Oct 24, 2012

  Noranda Aluminum Holding Corp. anticipates that an ice storm that hit its New Madrid, Mo., smelter nearly four years ago will have a negative impact in the fourth quarter.

• Boeing boosts guidance as deliveries rise Oct 24, 2012

  Boeing Co. has boosted its financial targets for the year as its deliveries of commercial transports have risen.

• Mixed signals seen for nickel premiums in '13 Oct 24, 2012

  There are mixed signals ahead for nickel premiums, with those for melting-grade material seen weakening while plating grade is said to be in store for a pickup.

• Teck plans to defer several projects Oct 24, 2012

  Teck Resources Ltd. said that it is deferring some of its planned capital expenditures, including expansions to its Quebrada Blanca copper mine, as it recorded a 77.9-percent year-on-year drop in net profit for the third quarter.

• CIT upholds aluminum extrusion decision vs. China Oct 24, 2012

  The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) has upheld a decision from 2011 that imports of "finished heat sinks" from China aren’t hurting the domestic aluminum extrusion industry.

• Dia Bras’ production marks ‘record’ quarter: Tellechea Oct 24, 2012

  Dia Bras Exploration Inc.’s total nonferrous and precious metals production increased 26 percent in the third quarter of 2012 compared with the same period a year ago, with the mining company processing 317,355 tonnes in total, it said Tuesday.