basic materials – Page 2

14Dec

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World

Basic Materials Roundup: Market Talk

The latest Market Talks covering Basic Materials. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.1652 GMT – Demand for chemical products will remain constrained in 2024, as major economies face inflation and higher interest rates, Fitch Ratings says. The industry will also feel the impact of a slower-than-expected recovery in China, according to Fitch. The neutral sector outlook reflects expectations that “conditions will not materially improve from the bottom-of-the-cycle levels that prevailed in 2023,” the agency says. Recent years have seen a buildup of “significant” new global capacity, which puts more pressure on chemical makers, Fitch says, adding this may “lead to the closure of uncompetitive assets, especially in regions disadvantaged by higher ener...

Platinum Miners Face Demand Downturn as EV Transition Revs Up

13Dec

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Platinum Miners Face Demand Downturn as EV Transition Revs Up

Miners of platinum metals are likely to face plummeting demand in the coming years, victim to the automotive industry’s transition to battery-electric vehicles.A decline in demand could happen as soon as 2025-26, Citi analysts say in a research note, forecasting “a structural demand downturn in a scale and speed hardly seen across the commodity markets.”Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

11Dec

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Money

What India Needs to Ditch Coal

India’s climate ambitions are a paradox. The South Asian giant has set aggressive targets for clean energy deployment, and is seen as one of the most attractive developing markets for renewable investment. Yet it refuses to turn its back on coal.India, along with China, has opted out of the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency pledge at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai—which included a commitment to curtail investment in new coal power. Coal currently meets nearly three-quarters of India’s growing energy needs. Moreover higher electricity capacity will, ironically, be key to survival in its increasingly hot weather as air conditioning needs rise.Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

11Dec

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World

What India Needs to Ditch Coal

India’s climate ambitions are a paradox. The South Asian giant has set aggressive targets for clean energy deployment, and is seen as one of the most attractive developing markets for renewable investment. Yet it refuses to turn its back on coal.India, along with China, has opted out of the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency pledge at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai—which included a commitment to curtail investment in new coal power. Coal currently meets nearly three-quarters of India’s growing energy needs. Moreover higher electricity capacity will, ironically, be key to survival in its increasingly hot weather as air conditioning needs rise.Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

The Next Chips to Transform EVs Could Be Made From Wood

10Dec

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World

The Next Chips to Transform EVs Could Be Made From Wood

Listen to article(2 minutes)ADELAIDE, Australia—Ivan Williams reckons he can help to break China’s dominance of a key ingredient of electric-vehicle batteries. To do so, he has been collecting wood chips from sawmills around the world.At a test plant in New Zealand’s picturesque Marlborough wine region, Williams and his team feed the wood chips into machines that turn out a form of synthetic graphite. He says the engineered material is as pure as synthetic graphite made from fossil fuels, which is mostly produced in China and can account for as much as half of the weight of a lithium-ion battery.Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

9Dec

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Money

The Next Chips to Transform EVs Could Be Made From Wood

Listen to article(2 minutes)ADELAIDE, Australia—Ivan Williams reckons he can help to break China’s dominance of a key ingredient of electric-vehicle batteries. To do so, he has been collecting wood chips from sawmills around the world.At a test plant in New Zealand’s picturesque Marlborough wine region, Williams and his team feed the wood chips into machines that turn out a form of synthetic graphite. He says the engineered material is as pure as synthetic graphite made from fossil fuels, which is mostly produced in China and can account for as much as half of the weight of a lithium-ion battery.Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Anglo American Sees Lower Production; Targets to Cut Cost by $1 Bln Next Year

8Dec

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Anglo American Sees Lower Production; Targets to Cut Cost by $1 Bln Next Year

Anglo American said it expects lower production next year amid near-term constraints and volatile market conditions, and that it plans to lower costs by $1 billion.The multinational diversified miner said Friday its output for 2023 increased by around 3% on year, driven by a ramp-up of operations at its Peruvian copper project Quellaveco and solid iron ore production, which offset lower platinum metals and diamonds production.Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Woodside Energy, Santos in Merger Talks to Create Global Energy Giant

7Dec

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Woodside Energy, Santos in Merger Talks to Create Global Energy Giant

SYDNEY—Woodside Energy and Santos said they are discussing a merger that could result in a new global giant worth around $52 billion, illustrating how rising demand for natural gas in the wake of the Ukraine war is reshaping the energy sector.Woodside and Santos said talks are at an early stage and there is no agreement over a deal that would rank as one of the largest in the energy sector this year. Santos said it was weighing the merger alongside other options to boost value for shareholders after its stock declined around 5% over the past 12 months.Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

6Dec

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World

Basic Materials Roundup: Market Talk

Updated Dec. 6, 2023 5:15 pm ETThe latest Market Talks covering Basic Materials. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.1126 ET – Brenntag enacting major changes, like a break-up of its businesses, appears to be off the table until at least 2026, Jefferies analysts Chris Counihan and Charlie Bentley say in a research note. The German chemical company seemingly defers any potential business separation as it instead focuses on reorganizing its divisions. Starting from 1Q24, its pharma activities will be transferred to Brenntag’s specialties division whilst its water-treatment and finished-lubricants business will move to essentials. This results in essentials accounting for 70% of the group’s gross profit and specialties 30%, enabling Brenntag to be r...

Clariant Sees Lower Earnings on Bioethanol Plant Closure

6Dec

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Clariant Sees Lower Earnings on Bioethanol Plant Closure

Clariant will close a bioethanol plant in Romania and has cut its earnings forecast as a result.The Swiss chemical company said Wednesday that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for 2023 are now forecast to be between 570 million and 600 million Swiss francs ($651.4 million-$685.6 million). The previous target range was CHF650 million to CHF700 million.Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8