Monthly Archives: May 2008
Suppliers: They keep the lights on (Porter’s Five Forces)
Suppliers have lots of power in most industries, and the mineral industry is no exception. To make a mine work, you need a few key resources beyond an ore body, and to get these you will need to work with … Continue reading
Filed under Porter's Five Forces
Money cannot buy you love
Sinosteel has board approval to buy a mine from the mine owners, but the owners are doing everything to hedge their bets. One almost wants Sinosteel to walk to get a Jerry Yang (Yahoo!) look to the Midwest’s boards faces. … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Even the U.S. Treasury is thrifting copper, nickel, and zinc
Associated Press: House passes bill to make coin-making cheaper I recently discussed threats from substitution, and now the U.S. Congress is getting into the game. Congress just passed a bill to make the penny–a nice copper-looking coin–into a copper-plated steel … Continue reading
Filed under Porter's Five Forces
More Indian rumors
On one hand, London Mining does not have a port, or access to one last time I checked. On the other hand, the Indian press really likes talking up a good story. If you believe them, Tata is going to … Continue reading
Filed under Iron Ore, Tata Group
A rice cartel: An attempt to herd cats
The saying “What is the price in of tea in China?” used to represent the theoretical number that was not relevant to your world. The other one was “Chinese money.” All I can say is, how times have changed. Today … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Fair deal by Vale
Vale is further consolidating Brazil, and it looks interesting. Here’s the story at Reuters. It’s a decent price, but one wonders if Mineracao Apolo could have gotten a higher one from someone else. Then again, they did not have to … Continue reading
Benjamin S., just call BHP or Anglo
CSN wants to sell its last iron ore mine. This would not be the first time that Benjamin S. has sold iron ore; the last time was when he sold CVRD, and you can see how well that worked out … Continue reading
Filed under Anglo, BHP, Iron Ore, Tata Group
The threat of substitute products (Porter’s Five Forces)
One would not assume that you can substitute most minerals from a value perspective, and you would be mostly right. The issue is “thrifting,” where you reduce your use, and I can start by looking at the copper market. On … Continue reading
Filed under Porter's Five Forces
