Global refractory mineral demand to be boosted during 2013

Global steel use is expected to increase by 2.9% to 1.5bn tonnes during 2013, following a growth of 1.2% in 2012, according to the latest World Steel Association (worldsteel) estimates.

The association’s Short Range Outlook (SRO) for 2013 and 2014 further forecasts that world steel demand will grow further by 3.2% to reach around 1.5bn tonnes.

Global crude steel production is an important sector for industrial minerals and is the largest end-market for refractory minerals such as alumina, andalusite, bauxite, graphite, magnesia and zircon.