Sohar Port and Freezone on Sunday signed a land lease agreement with Starsun Sohar (FZC) to establish a recycling plant dedicated to the sustainable management of lead-acid batteries in Sohar Freezone.

Gulf Alloys and Metals (FZC) LLC began a trial run of its 10,000 tpa capacity ferrochrome alloy plant.

India's private-sector steelmaker JSW Steel has announced a 13.2mn t/yr greenfield steel manufacturing complex in Paradip, Odisha.

Vale will receive its pro rata share of Minas Rio production with completion of the deal. It will also have an option to acquire an additional 15pc stake in the enlarged Minas Rio for cash.

Weekly Italian rebar and drawing-quality wire rod assessments softened by €5/t to €600/t ex-works and €660/t delivered.

Just becoming a secondary steelmaker will mean the country cannot produce all the requisite grades for its automotive industry, it added.

The volume review could technically be finalised and in place for 1 July, but Griffiths said the timeline is tight.

Australian resources firm BHP will report an impairment of $2.5bn on its Western Australia nickel business.