Global Slag News

World: The ferrous slag market in 2014 was worth an estimated US$30bn. It is forecast to grow by 1.6% to US$36bn by 2025, according to a new report from Smithers Apex.

'The Future of Ferrous Slag to 2025' examines the factors affecting ferrous slag production to provide a basis for forecasting the quantities likely to be produced up to the year 2025. It looks at current and possible future applications of slag and describes the trends in regulations affecting the market.

The current potential market supply of blast furnace slag is estimated to be 447Mt, of which almost 295 – 300Mt is granulated blast furnace slag (GBS). The making of steel from blast furnace iron through oxygen conversion (or basic oxygen furnace, BOF) contributes a further 140 – 145Mt of slag and the alternative route to steelmaking through electric arc furnaces (EAF) supplies more than 50Mt.

According to the report, the total output of ferrous slag is expected to increase only slowly, or to stagnate and decline marginally, because EAF steelmaking capacity is expected to grow faster than BF-BOF steelmaking capacity. This effect can already be seen in the US, where the tonnage of steel produced by EAF plants overtook the tonnage produced by BF-BOF plants in the 1990s. Since then, further decline in BF-BOF output has led US-cement and aggregate companies to start importing slag and to invest in new coastal slag treatment installations dependent entirely on imported supplies.

Changes in the Chinese steel industry will contribute substantially to this rising share of EAF steel in world supply. China produces half of world crude steel and BF-BOF steelworks account for over 80% of China's steel output. The Chinese government is campaigning to replace small and inefficient steelworks with EAF installations.

In the current market, it is estimated that total production of ferrous slag of all types amounts to US$24.5bn. While it is possible that supply will increase only slowly, if at all, there is growing demand for slag products, which is likely to ensure that the value per tonne of slag products will increase. The growth in demand has been accelerated by environmental legislation and by direct intervention from governments and international bodies.

Demand for slag products has been affected by market cycles. The collapse of construction activity in Europe, as a consequence of the financial crisis, reduced sales of slag for cement and aggregate use. Over the medium term, there is every prospect that demand will outrun supply. Currently GGBS meets only an estimated 17% of global cement supply. Slag products as aggregate substitutes meet only 1 - 1.5% of total demand.

South Africa: Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium has announced plans to oppose court action by some of its major creditors, which want to declare the company's business rescue as invalid.

The company, which makes flat steel products, structural steel and vanadium slag, said that it has filed a notice of intention to oppose the further urgent court proceedings that East Metals and Mastercroft instituted against the joint business rescue practitioners of Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium and several other affected persons.

Zambia: BMR Mining has identified a new market for Waelz Kiln slag at its operations in Kabwe, Zambia. The ferro-silicate zinc slag can be used for the construction of building blocks. BMR has produced a test batch of building blocks, using an 80:20 ratio of slag to building sand, which has not resulted in the leaching of either lead or zinc.

BMR will submit an application for approval from Zambia's Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) to produce the slag for building and concrete production. The company is submitting an Environmental Project Brief, which is less complex than approval for an Environmental Impact Study. The application will be submitted in November 2015 and is expected to be approved by the end of 2015.

Once the company has received approval, BMR aims to sell the slag locally to limit costs. "We therefore anticipate BMR generating revenue in 2016, following receipt of ZEMA approval, from both the processing of Wash Plant Tailings and the Waelz Kiln Slag," said BMR Chairman and CEO Alex Borrelli. BMR assets in Zambia include the Chingola Tailings, Kabwe Tailings and Ndola projects.

Sweden: Ovako has signed a contract with NCC to supply steel slag to be used as ballast in asphalt. As part of the contract, NCC will buy 50,000t/yr for the first three years and then 85,000t/yr. The road surface should be quieter, more durable and more sustainable, according to NCC-run tests in Borlänge.

South Africa: Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium's bankruptcy protection practitioners have named International Resources Limited (IRL) as the successful bidder for South Africa's second-largest steel producer.

Hong Kong's IRL has offered US$26.2m to settle creditors' claims against Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium and US$1.49m as a payment to shareholders. IRL, which has interests in mining, forestry and real estate, would invest a further US$307m in the business over the next three to four years to refurbish equipment and build a 200MW cogeneration plant. The company would also increase steel production to pre-2008 levels of 910,000t/yr within 18 months. Following the completion of the capital upgrade, steel production would be increased to 1.5Mt/yr over the next three to four years. In addition, IRL intends to establish an ultra-high grade 23,000t/yr vanadium pentoxide production line. The commissioning of a 200,000t/yr titanium slag production line, producing 75% titanium, would further enhance Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium's production site.

Should IRL's proposal be accepted, the company would start production as soon as possible. As an alternative, IRL proposed to buy Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium as a going concern for US$26.2m. If neither of the two proposals is accepted, Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium would be wound down and creditors might receive between 10 - 14% of their claims.