Nickel

The new stainless steel, HRX19TM, for use in high pressure hydrogen environments has been developed by Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC), the global steel producer. HRX19TM has already been used for heat exchangers, joints and valves of commercial use in hydrogen stations.

According to a recent report by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), in 2015, the global output of stainless steel in 2015 will rise by two percent year-on-year and will rise even further by 4.

Ms. Melanie Mitchell has joined Sandmeyer Steel Company as the district sales manager for Canada replacing Mr. Adam Paterson, who is retiring as the company’s manufacturer’s representative in Canada.

Glencore's Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations (Sudbury INO) has been recognized for its "outstanding performance" in creating a safe, environmentally friendly operation.

Sudbury INO has received a special Towards Sustainable Mining (TMO) Leadership Award, which is granted only when an operation meets or exceeds a level "A" ranking in its results across six performance areas of the TSM initiative: Safety and health, aboriginal and community outreach, crisis management, tailings management, biodiversity conservation management and energy use and greenhouse gas emissions management.

In Europe, stainless steel business activity is at relatively low levels. With alloy surcharges falling in December and set to rise in January, some speculative purchasing may have been expected, this month.

A possible public listing of a stake in the base metals unit of Brazil's Vale SA depends on a rally in nickel prices of around 20 percent, its CFO, Luciano Siani, has announced. He stated, “We want to see nickel prices above $20,000 per ton in order to consider such an option.

Outokumpu’s stainless steel mill in Calvert, Alabama, USA has experienced technical issues in all of its three cold rolling lines during the past six months. This has had a negative impact on customer deliveries and increased costs.

Worldwide stainless steel sales activity and prices are going through a subdued phase at present, MEPS has reported. A seasonal slowdown is to be expected as producers, distributors and end-users all strive to minimise their inventories for the end of December, which is, for many, their financial year-end.

Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) said today that it has received an additional order for its nickel-based alloy plate to be used in a large oil & gas pipeline project. Shipments are scheduled to begin later this month and continue through the first half of 2015.

Vale SA is considering listing part of its global base metals business as the miner looks to fund capital projects amid a collapse in iron ore prices. It is reported that the world's top iron ore producer is likely to retain a majority interest in the new entity if it proceeds with the plan.