Reuters reported that Nickel Asia Corporation, the Philippines' biggest nickel miner by output and sales, is looking to ramp up ore exports this year after record sales in 2014 as market expectations of a global supply shortfall persist.

Antam’s unaudited sales plunged 16% in 2014 to IDR 9.46 trillion (USD 741.67 million) compared to the IDR 11.29 trillion generated in 2013.

[Ferro-Alloys.com]Ferrochrome producer Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys Ltd (IMFA) has made a loss of Rs 3.74 crore in October-December period, against Rs 11 crore profit made in the previous comparable period due to its chromite mines closure.

On Jan.29th, the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) declined by 5% to 632point, recording the new low since 1986. In addition to the excess capacity, unstable demand and the dropping fuel costs, the shrinking demand of China was considered to be the main driving force.

According to the statistics of Japan Customs, Japan’s ferromanganese import volume was 13829 mt in Dec, 2014 and was totally 134,475 mt in the whole year 2014, up by 3.9% Y-O-Y. The imports by counties were as follows

According to the statistics of Japan Customs, Japan’s ferroalloy export volume was 24,454 mt in Dec, 2014, more than 2 times than that in Nov, and down by 32.4% Y-O-Y. The total export the whole year of 2014 was 231,475 mt, slightly down by 3.6% Y-O-Y.

[Ferro-Alloys.com]MERAFE Resources’ full-year ferrochrome production volumes for 2014 were 5 percent higher than the previous year.

The management of BHP's spin-off of unwanted assets, South32, will have little choice but to chase acquisitions if they want to pursue growth, according to Deutsche Bank.