Resumen de Demand for refractory minerals rises in South Korea

Industrial Minerals

• With South Korea's manufacturing sector experiencing a recovery, demand for refractory raw materials could be further boosted in 2017. [...]largest supplier Japan also saw mixed results from its price reductions. [...]just before the end of 2016, the state council of China approved an export tax adjustment on partial products, including the cancellation of export taxes on graphite, magnesia and magnesite. South Korea recovering South Korea's economy is also recovering slowly, which is expected to result in increased steel production and refractory mineral consumption. The Nikkei South Korea Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) was 49.4 in December, which still showed the sector contracting, but the rate of contraction was below November's PMI of 48.0.