The global widespread of COVID-19 has forced many countries to enforce stringent containment measures which result in a heavy impact on global economic activity. Over the past few months, we saw serious disruption of manpower, transportation and production in China. We are now seeing these scenarios happening around the world.

China’s production of stainless steel in March dropped 13.2% from a year ago, showed SMM data, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

China’s imports and exports of stainless steel declined sharply in the first two months of 2020, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. About 149,060 mt of stainless steel was imported to China in the January-February period, down 38.56% from the same period last year, while exports dropped 11.92% to 442,180 mt.

About 1.2 million mt of manganese ore production in South Africa is expected to be affected by the 21-day nationwide lockdown aimed at containing the coronavirus, a local trader estimates. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the three-week lockdown on Monday March 23, including closing mines, starting from midnight Thursday March 26.

More silicon producers in south China’s Fujian and Hunan provinces have restarted operations after the extended Chinese New Year holiday as they newly signed long-term contracts with consumers...

China produced 29.4 million mt of crude stainless steel in 2019, up 10.08% from 2018, according to data from the Stainless Steel Council of China Special Steel Enterprises Association.

Industrial activity levels outside of central China continues to improve as workers return from quarantine periods and logistics pressures eased.

A large-scale zinc smelter in Inner Mongolia suspended operations on the afternoon of Wednesday February 26 in response to some incidents, according to sources

Transactions in the spot copper market declined on the morning of February 26 in Shanghai as intensified concerns about the coronavirus impact depressed demand for risk assets and the enquires from...

SMM does not expect any further significant buildup in stocks as smelters will seek to ease inventory pressure in south China by shipping cargoes to other regions and piling up stocks of sulphuric...