- Write by:
-
Thursday, February 11, 2021 - 1:45:25 PM
-
309 Visit
-
Print
Mining News Pro - Steelmaker ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) return to profit in the second half of its 2020 financial year on the back of steel-shortage-induced price rises that negatively affected many domestic downstream consumers and have led to growing calls for a lifting of import protection.
The JSE-listed company recorded a loss in the first half of the Covid-afflicted year, when almost all its operations were halted for the first time in the company’s history, but recovered to a R1.02-billion profit in the second six months.
As a result of this second-half recovery AMSA reduced its full-year headline loss to R2.04-billion, representing a R1.22-billion improvement on the R3.27-billion loss recorded in 2019.
Group revenue decreased by 40% to R24.64-billion, owing to a 47% fall in sales volumes for the year of 2.2-million tonnes.
CEO Kobus Verster described the challenges experienced during 2020 as “unprecedented”, with the first half of the year characterised by Covid-19-induced lockdowns that disrupted demand, production and supply chains.
The second half of 2020 saw an “unexpected bounce in near-term steel demand internationally”, however, that resulted in major steelmaking economies around the globe struggling to meet this demand.
“Regions with integrated primary steelmaking operations were especially affected as the complex supply chain components took time to re-establish and, internationally, this restoration continues.”
These supply shortages, coupled with nine-year-high iron-ore prices and increases in scrap and other raw material prices, triggered prices rises, particularly in the fourth quarter, AMSA said.
“By late December 2020 and into early January 2021, international steel prices reached levels last seen in 2008.”
AMSA had responded to the supply squeeze by restarting the second blast furnace at the Vanderbijlpark Works in December 2020, followed by the third basic oxygen furnace and the direct reduced iron plant to support flat steel supply.
Its electric arc furnace at Vereeniging, which was scheduled to be placed under care and maintenance in the third quarter of 2020, would continue to operate for the foreseeable future in support of long steel supply.
Nevertheless, downstream consumers have called for import protection to be lifted at least until market balance has been restored.
It emerged this week that the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) had received a policy directive from Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel to investigate the creation of a rebate facility of customs and safeguard duties to cover imported flat steel products used by the downstream industry.
The directive, an Itac letter dated February 9 states, cites complaints that have been received from the downstream sector with regards to the shortage of steel.
Itac has requested stakeholders to offer feedback, by February 19, on specific product backlogs and the impact these have had on the company`s operations.
Short Link:
https://www.miningnews.ir/En/News/610435
A prefeasibility study for Predictive Discovery’s (ASX: PDI) Bankan gold project in Guinea gives it a net present value ...
Iron ore futures prices drifted higher on Thursday as the latest soft data from top consumer China triggered renewed ...
Rio Tinto said on Wednesday it is teaming up with a global venture studio and start-up investor to back the development ...
Outflows from global physically backed gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) continued for a 10th month in March, but at a ...
Australia’s Fortescue said on Monday it would form a joint venture with OCP Group to supply green hydrogen, ammonia and ...
BMO Bank quietly dropped its policy restricting lending to the coal industry in late 2023, helping it avoid being ...
Mining News Pro - The ceremony of commemorating the tree planting day and the beginning of the afforestation project and ...
Mining News Pro - The DRI manager of Hormozgan Steel Company's said: According to the plans made in line with the ...
Private credit managers are doing significantly more fossil-fuel deals now than just a few years ago, as they step into ...
No comments have been posted yet ...