Resumen de MagMin 2016: : Networking talks reveal the true nature of magnesia industry
Refractories consumed around 80% of total magnesia production last year, according to [Samantha Wietlisbach]. Steelmaking accounted for the majority of this, using 6.8m tonnes magnesia products (3.5m tonnes of which was in China), while the cement industry was the second largest user, at 2.1m tonnes magnesia (including 1.2m tonnes in China).
"In the short term macroeconomic picture, UK, Germany and France all have higher GDP than the EU-28 average, while Italy and Spain are below the EU-28 average GDP, but Italy is stable and Spain is increasing," [Claude Lorea] said.
In terms of CEMBUREAU's economic outlook for 2016, Lorea said there are some positive external factors such as; the ECB's Asset Purchase Programme, labelled as "Quantitative Easing" extended until March 2017; oil prices at record lows - down by 69.3% in nominal terms since June 2014; EU/USD exchange rate down towards the parity: -20% EUR depreciation since 2014 benefits exports.
