The Economics of Magnesium Metal, 10th edition

Table of Contents

1. Summary

2. Occurrence and properties of magnesium

• 2.1 Magnesium ores and resources

3. Processes for producing magnesium

• 3.1 Thermal reduction methods
  • 3.1.1 Pidgeon process
  • 3.1.2 Magnétherm process
  • 3.1.3 MAGRAM process
  • 3.1.4 Mintek Thermal Magnesium process (MTM)
  • 3.1.5 Carbothermic process
  • 3.1.6 Zuliani process
• 3.2 Electrolytic methods
  • 3.2.1 Alcan diaphragmless cell
  • 3.2.2 AM process
  • 3.2.3 Amax brine process
  • 3.2.4 Dow process
  • 3.2.5 Hydro Magnesium
  • 3.2.6 IG Farben process
  • 3.2.7 MPLC process (Magcan process)
  • 3.2.8 STI/VAMI process
• 3.3 Magnesium recycling processes
• 3.4 Handling molten magnesium
• 3.5 Process economics
  • 3.5.1 Production costs

4. World production data for magnesium metal

• 4.1 World production of primary magnesium
  • 4.1.1 Primary magnesium production capacity
• 4.2 New magnesium production projects
• 4.3 World production of secondary magnesium
  • 4.3.1 Secondary magnesium production capacity by company

5. Production and supply of magnesium, its alloys and products by country and company

• 5.1 Argentina
• 5.2 Australia
  • 5.2.1 Australian Magnesium Corporation Limited (AMC)
  • 5.2.2 Indcor Limited
  • 5.2.3 Latrobe Magnesium
  • 5.2.4 Magnesium International Limited (MIL)
  • 5.2.5 New World Alloys Limited
  • 5.2.6 Pacific Magnesium Corporation Limited
  • 5.2.7 International Minerals Corporation
• 5.3 Austria
• 5.4 Belgium
• 5.5 Brazil
• 5.5.1 Producers of magnesium in Brazil
• 5.6 Canada
  • 5.6.1 Timminco Limited
  • 5.6.2 Meridian Technologies Incorporated
  • 5.6.3 Other fabricators of magnesium products in Canada
  • 5.6.4 Past producers of magnesium in Canada
  • 5.6.5 Primary magnesium projects in Canada
    • 5.6.5.1 Gossan Resources
    • 5.6.5.2 Leader Mining
• 5.7 China
  • 5.7.1 Production of primary magnesium in China
    • 5.7.1.1 Taiyuan Tongxiang Magnesium
    • 5.7.1.2 Sichuan Duowei
    • 5.7.1.3 Taiyuan Yiwei Magnesium
    • 5.7.1.4 Shanxi Wenxi Yinguang Magnesium
    • 5.7.1.5 China Direct
    • 5.7.1.6 Ningxia Huizhi Magnesium
    • 5.7.1.7 Other magnesium producing and processing companies
  • 5.7.2 Downstream fabrication of magnesium in China
• 5.8 Republic of Congo
  • 5.8.1 MagMetals - Kouilou Magnesium Project
• 5.9 Czech Republic
• 5.10 Egypt
• 5.11 France
• 5.12 Germany
  • 5.12.1 Producers of secondary magnesium in Germany
  • 5.12.2 Fabricators of magnesium products in Germany
• 5.13 India
• 5.14 Israel
  • 5.14.1 Dead Sea Magnesium
  • 5.14.2 Ortal Diecasting
• 5.15 Italy
  • 5.15.1 Producers and fabricators of magnesium in Italy
• 5.16 Japan
  • 5.16.1 Nippon Kinzoku
  • 5.16.2 Onoda Morimura Magnesium Limited
  • 5.16.3 Fabricators of magnesium products in Japan
• 5.17 Kazakhstan
  • 5.17.1 Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium and Magnesium Plant (UKTMP)
• 5.18 South Korea
• 5.19 Malaysia
• 5.20 Mexico
• 5.21 Netherlands
  • 5.21.1 Antheus Magnesium BV
  • 5.21.2 Aleris International
• 5.22 Norway
• 5.23 Poland
• 5.24 Russia
  • 5.24.1 Producers of primary magnesium metal in Russia
    • 5.24.1.1 VSMPO Avisma
    • 5.24.1.2 Solikamsk Magnesium Works (SMZ)
  • 5.24.2 Other magnesium companies in Russia
  • 5.24.3 Primary magnesium metal projects in Russia
• 5.25 Serbia
• 5.26 Singapore
• 5.27 Slovenia
• 5.28 South Africa
• 5.29 Switzerland
• 5.30 Taiwan
• 5.31 Ukraine
  • 5.31.1 Producers of primary magnesium in the Ukraine
  • 5.31.2 Zaporozhye Titanium and Magnesium Combine (ZTMK)
  • 5.31.3 Mahnii
• 5.32 UK
  • 5.32.1 Producers and fabricators of magnesium in the UK
    • 5.32.1.1 Magnesium Electron
    • 5.32.1.2 Oldbury Aluminium
    • 5.32.1.3 Dynacast
    • 5.32.1.4 Magnesium Products UK
    • 5.32.1.5 Trident Components Group (TCG)
    • 5.32.1.6 UK Racing Castings
• 5.33 USA
  • 5.33.1 Magnesium producers in the USA
    • 5.33.1.1 US Magnesium
    • 5.33.1.2 Advanced Magnesium Alloys Corporation (Amacor)
    • 5.33.1.3 MagReTech (Garfield Alloys)
    • 5.33.1.4 MagPro LLC
  • 5.33.2 Fabricators of magnesium in the USA
    • 5.33.2.1 American Precision Castings Incorporated
    • 5.33.2.2 Chicago White Metal Casting Company
    • 5.33.2.3 Contech Metal Forge
    • 5.33.2.4 Del Mar Industries
    • 5.33.2.5 Gibbs Die Casting Corporation
    • 5.33.2.6 Intermet Corporation
    • 5.33.2.7 Lunt Manufacturing
    • 5.33.2.8 Magellan Aerospace
    • 5.33.2.9 Magnesium Elektron
    • 5.33.2.10 Magnesium Technologies
    • 5.33.2.11 Product Technologies
    • 5.33.2.12 Northern Diecast
    • 5.33.2.13 Rossborough Supply
    • 5.33.2.14 Spartan Light Metal Products
    • 5.33.2.15 Timminco
    • 5.33.2.16 Other producers of magnesium products in the USA

6. World consumption of magnesium metal

• 6.1 Consumption of magnesium by use
• 6.2 Outlook for magnesium consumption

7. Uses of magnesium

• 7.1 Use of magnesium in casting alloys
  • 7.1.1 Production of magnesium castings
  • 7.1.2 Applications of magnesium casting alloys
  • 7.1.3 Use of magnesium castings in motor vehicles
    • 7.1.3.1 World production of automobiles
  • 7.1.4 Aerospace
    • 7.1.4.1 Structure of the global aerospace industry
  • 7.1.5 Use of magnesium casting alloys in computers, communications and consumer electronics (3C).
  • 7.1.6 Other applications for magnesium casting alloys
  • 7.1.7 Outlook for magnesium use in casting alloys
    • 7.1.7.1 Motor vehicles
    • 7.1.7.2 Other magnesium castings
• 7.2 Use of magnesium in other magnesium alloys and composites
  • 7.2.1 Wrought and forging magnesium alloys
  • 7.2.2 Metal matrix composites
  • 7.2.3 Outlook for magnesium use in other magnesium alloys
• 7.3 Use of magnesium in aluminium alloys
  • 7.3.1 Use of magnesium in aluminium alloys by sector
  • 7.3.2 Use of magnesium in aluminium alloys for packaging
    • 7.3.2.1 Use of aluminium in beverage cans
    • 7.3.2.2 Production of beverage cans
    • 7.3.2.3 Aerosol containers
    • 7.3.2.4 Other forms of aluminium packaging
    • 7.3.2.5 Competition from other packaging materials
  • 7.3.3 Use of magnesium in aluminium alloys in transport
    • 7.3.3.1 Motor vehicles
    • 7.3.3.2 Railways
    • 7.3.3.3 Aerospace
    • 7.3.3.4 Marine
  • 7.3.4 Use of magnesium in aluminium alloys in construction
  • 7.3.5 Use of magnesium in aluminium alloys in consumer durables
  • 7.3.6 Use of magnesium in aluminium alloys in machinery and equipment
  • 7.3.7 Use of magnesium in aluminium alloys in electrical applications
    • 7.3.7.1 Electricity transmission
    • 7.3.7.2 Telecommunications
    • 7.3.7.3 Other
  • 7.3.8 Uses of magnesium in aluminium alloys in other applications
  • 7.3.9 Outlook for magnesium use in aluminium alloys
    • 7.3.9.1 Packaging
    • 7.3.9.2 Transport
    • 7.3.9.3 Construction
    • 7.3.9.4 Other uses
• 7.4 Use of magnesium in desulphurisation of steel
  • 7.4.1 Techniques used for the desulphurising of steel
  • 7.4.2 Desulphurising agents
  • 7.4.3 Crude steel production
    • 7.4.3.1 Crude steel producing companies
  • 7.4.4 Outlook for magnesium use in desulphurisation of steel
• 7.5 Use of magnesium in production of titanium sponge
  • 7.5.1 The Kroll process for titanium sponge production
  • 7.5.2 Production of titanium sponge
  • 7.5.3 Companies producing titanium sponge
  • 7.5.4 Outlook for magnesium use in titanium production
• 7.6 Cathodic protection
  • 7.6.1 Outlook for use of magnesium in cathodic protection
• 7.7 Use of magnesium as a noduliser in ductile cast iron
  • 7.7.1 Techniques used in nodulising ductile cast iron
  • 7.7.2 Production of nodular cast iron
  • 7.7.3 Outlook for the use of magnesium as a noduliser
• 7.8 Use of magnesium in minor applications
  • 7.8.1 Magnesium batteries
  • 7.8.2 Magnesium chemicals
  • 7.8.3 Photo-engraving plates
  • 7.8.4 Hydrogen storage
  • 7.8.5 Flameless heaters
  • 7.8.6 Production of zirconium metal

8. Analysis of magnesium international trade data

• 8.1 International trade in unwrought magnesium
  • 8.1.1 Exports of unwrought magnesium
  • 8.1.2 Imports of unwrought magnesium
• 8.2 International trade in magnesium waste and scrap
  • 8.2.1 Exports of magnesium waste and scrap
  • 8.2.2 Imports of magnesium waste and scrap
• 8.3 International trade in magnesium raspings, turnings, granules and powders
  • 8.3.1 Exports of magnesium raspings, turnings, granules and powders
  • 8.3.2 Imports of magnesium raspings, turnings, granules and powders
• 8.4 International trade in wrought magnesium articles
  • 8.4.1 Exports of wrought magnesium articles
  • 8.4.2 Imports of wrought magnesium articles

9. Marketing and prices of magnesium

• 9.1 Prices of unwrought 99.9% magnesium
• 9.2 Prices of other forms of magnesium
• 9.3 Future trends in magnesium prices

List of Tables

• Table 1: Properties of magnesium
• Table 2: Raw materials for magnesium production
• Table 3: Magnétherm process: Mass balance
• Table 4: USA: Magnesium scrap processed and form of recovery, 1998 to 2006
• Table 5: Energy consumption for reduction in magnesium production processes
• Table 6: World: Production of primary magnesium by country, 1997 to 2007
• Table 7: World: Primary magnesium producing companies, 2007
• Table 8: World: Estimated secondary magnesium capacity by country and company
• Table 9: Australia: Details of primary magnesium projects, 2004
• Table 10: Austria: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 11: Belgium: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 12: Brazil: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 13: Brazil: Magnesium alloys produced by Rima Industrial
• Table 14: Canada: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 15: Meridian Technologies: Details of magnesium product plants
• Table 16: China: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2007
• Table 17: China: Magnesium production and number of smelters by province, 2005 and 2006
• Table 18: China: Top ten magnesium producers, 2005 and 2006
• Table 19: China: Primary production of magnesium by company, 2006
• Table 20: China: New and planned primary magnesium capacity, 2007 to 2009
• Table 21: Czech Republic: Exports and imports of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 22: France: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 23: Germany: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 24: Israel: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 25: Italy: Exports and imports of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 26: Japan: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 27: South Korea: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 28: Mexico: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 29: Netherlands: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 30: Norway: Production and imports of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 31: Russia: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 32: Russia: Production and sales of magnesium metal and magnesium alloys by company, 1986 to 2006
• Table 33: Taiwan: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 34: Ukraine: Production of magnesium by company, 1986 to 2006
• Table 35: UK: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2007
• Table 36: USA: Supply and disposal of magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 37: World: Apparent consumption of magnesium by country and region, 2002 to 2006
• Table 38: USA: Reported consumption of magnesium by use, 1997 to 2006
• Table 39: Japan: Shipments of magnesium by use, 1998 to 2007
• Table 40: China: Consumption of magnesium by use, 2000 to 2006
• Table 41: World: Forecast consumption of magnesium by use, 2006 and 2012
• Table 42: Compositions of common magnesium die-casting alloys
• Table 43: Specifications of selected magnesium casting alloys
• Table 44: Selected countries: Production of cast magnesium, 1997 to 2006
• Table 45: World: Production of passenger vehicles, 1997 to 2006
• Table 46: World: Production of light commercial vehicles by country, 1997 to 2006
• Table 47: World: Active fleet of commercial jet aircraft, 2006
• Table 48: Chemical compositions and applications of selected wrought aluminium alloys containing magnesium
• Table 49: Chemical compositions of aluminium casting alloys in which magnesium is the principal alloying element
• Table 50: USA: Shipments of primary aluminum by industry, 1997 to 2006
• Table 51: Japan: Shipments of aluminium by industry, 2004 to 2007
• Table 52: USA: Shipments of aluminium for containers and packaging, 1973 to 2006
• Table 53: Europe: Beverage can usage and recycling, 2005
• Table 54: Europe: Producers of aluminium beverage cans, 2005
• Table 55: USA: Shipments of aluminium to the transport industry by sector and product, 1997 to 2006
• Table 56: Compositions of some typical aluminium alloys containing magnesium used in motor vehicles
• Table 57: Aluminium alloys and their automotive applications
• Table 58: Consumption of materials in selected civil and military aircraft
• Table 59: World: Deliveries and orders of fast ferries, end 2006
• Table 60: USA: Shipments of aluminium to selected construction industry sectors, by type of product, 1997 to 2006
• Table 61: USA: Shipments of aluminium for use in consumer durables, 1990 to 2006
• Table 62 : Japan, USA and China: Average use of magnesium desulphuriser per tonne of steel produced, 2001 to 2006
• Table 63: World: Crude steel production by region, 1997 to 2006
• Table 64: World: Production of crude steel by country, 1996 to 2006
• Table 65: Crude steel production by principal steelmakers, 2006
• Table 66: World: Comparison of titanium sponge production with apparent or reported magnesium use as a reductant by country, 2001 to 2006
• Table 67: World: Production of titanium sponge by country, 1996 to 2007
• Table 68: World: Titanium sponge producing companies, 2006
• Table 69: World: Forecast capacity for the production of titanium sponge, 2010
• Table 70: World: Production of ductile cast iron by country, 1997 to 2005
• Table 71: Selected countries: Exports and imports of ferrosilicon magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 72: Reporting countries: International trade in magnesium, 2002 to 2006
• Table 73: Reporting countries: Exports of magnesium containing less than 99.8%Mg by country, 2002 to 2006
• Table 74 : Reporting countries: Exports of magnesium containing at least 99.8%Mg by country, 2002 to 2006
• Table 75: Reporting countries: Exports of unwrought magnesium by country of destination, 2006
• Table 76: Reporting countries: Imports of magnesium containing less than 99.8%Mg by country, 2002 to 2006
• Table 77: Reporting countries: Imports of magnesium containing at least 99.8%Mg by country, 2002 to 2006
• Table 78: Reporting countries: Imports of unwrought magnesium by country of origin, 2006
• Table 79: Reporting countries: Exports of magnesium waste and scrap, 2002 to 2006
• Table 80: Reporting countries: Exports of magnesium waste and scrap by country of destination 2006
• Table 81: Reporting countries: Imports of magnesium waste and scrap, 2002 to 2006
• Table 82: Reporting countries: Imports of magnesium waste and scrap by country of origin 2006
• Table 83: Reporting countries: Exports of magnesium raspings, turnings, granules and powders, 2002 to 2006
• Table 84: Reporting countries: Exports of magnesium raspings, turnings, granules and powders by country and country of destination, 2006
• Table 85: Reporting countries: Imports of magnesium raspings, turnings, granules and powders, 2002 to 2006
• Table 86 : Reporting countries: Imports of magnesium raspings, turnings, granules and powders by country of origin, 2006
• Table 87: Reporting countries: Exports of wrought magnesium articles, 2002 to 2006
• Table 88: Reporting countries: Exports of wrought magnesium articles by country and country of destination, 2006
• Table 89: Reporting countries: Imports of wrought magnesium articles, 2002 to 2006
• Table 90: Reporting countries: Imports of wrought magnesium articles by country and country of origin, 2006
• Table 91: Chinese and world quarterly free market prices for magnesium minimum 99.8%Mg, 1997 to 2007
• Table 92: Reported Chinese and European magnesium prices, April 2007 to January 2008
• Table 93: USA: Quarterly Western and dealer import spot prices for magnesium, 1994 to 2008
• Table 94: Values of other forms of magnesium entering into international trade by principal country, 2002 to 2006

List of Figures

• Figure 1: World: Comparison of division of production and consumption of magnesium by principal countries, 2007
• Figure 2: Flow chart of AM process
• Figure 3: Flow chart of Amax process
• Figure 4: Flow chart of Hydro process
• Figure 5: World: Comparison of operating cost indices of selected magnesium plants, 2003
• Figure 6: World: Estimated production of primary and secondary magnesium metal, 1985 to 2007
• Figure 7: World: Production of primary magnesium, 1997 to 2007
• Figure 8: Estimated production of primary magnesium by main countries, 1997 to 2007
• Figure 9: Estimated division of production of primary magnesium by principal country, 2007
• Figure 10: Canada: Production, exports, imports and consumption of magnesium, 1995 to 2007
• Figure 11: China: Production, exports and consumption of primary magnesium, 1997 to 2007
• Figure 12: China: Exports of magnesium by product, 2000 to 2007
• Figure 13: Kazakhstan: Production and sale of magnesium, 1986 to 2006
• Figure 14: Russia: Production of magnesium and magnesium alloys and amount for sale, 1986 to 2006
• Figure 15 USA: Estimated production of magnesium metal, 1998 to 2006
• Figure 16: World: Apparent consumption of magnesium by region, 2002 to 2006
• Figure 17: World: Division of apparent consumption of magnesium by major country, 2006
• Figure 18: World: Apparent consumption of magnesium by principal countries, 2002 to 2006
• Figure 19: World: Estimated division of magnesium consumption by application, 2006
• Figure 20: USA: Division of reported magnesium consumption by major application, 1997 to 2006
• Figure 21: Japan: Magnesium shipments by use, 1997 to 2006
• Figure 22: China: Consumption of magnesium by use, 2000 to 2006
• Figure 23: China, USA and Japan: Comparison of division of magnesium consumption by use, 2006
• Figure 24: USA and Japan: Division of magnesium casting markets, 2006
• Figure 25: World: Division of production of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles by region, 2006
• Figure 26: World: Production of cars and light commercial vehicles by region, 1997 to 2006
• Figure 27: World large jet aircraft active fleet by manufacturer, 2006
• Figure 28: World: Commercial jet aircraft delivery, 1980 to 2006
• Figure 29: World: Production of passenger and light commercial vehicles, 1997 to 2006 and forecast to 2012
• Figure 30: Estimated division of magnesium consumption in aluminium alloys by industry, 2006
• Figure 31: USA: Division of aluminium shipments by products and major market, 2006
• Figure 32: North America and Europe: Division of aluminium consumption by major market, 2006
• Figure 33: Japan: Forecast division of aluminium shipments by industry, 2007
• Figure 34: World: Market for beverage cans by region, 2006
• Figure 35: USA: Shipments of beverage cans, 1990 to 2005
• Figure 36: Europe: Shipments of beverage cans, 1997 to 2006
• Figure 37: Europe: Division of beverage can market by principal countries, 2006
• Figure 38: World: Markets for aluminium aerosol cans, 2006
• Figure 39: USA: Shipments of aluminium to the transport industry by market and product, 2006
• Figure 40: World: Production of crude steel and year-on-year changes, 1981 to 2006
• Figure 41: World: Crude steel production by region, 1992 to 2006
• Figure 42: Division of world production of crude steel by region, 2006
• Figure 43: World: Production of titanium sponge, 1995 to 2007
• Figure 44: World: Division of production of ductile cast by principal countries, 2005
• Figure 45: Reporting countries: Division of exports of unwrought magnesium containing less than 99.8%Mg by principal country, 2006
• Figure 46: Reporting countries: Division of exports of unwrought magnesium containing at least 99.8%Mg by principal country, 2006
• Figure 47: Exports of magnesium containing less than 99.8%Mg by principal country, 2002 to 2006
• Figure 48: Exports of magnesium containing at least 99.8%Mg by principal country, 2002 to 2006
• Figure 49: Reporting countries: Division of imports of unwrought magnesium containing less than 99.8%Mg by principal country, 2006
• Figure 50: Reporting countries: Division of imports of unwrought magnesium containing at least 99.8%Mg by principal country, 2006
• Figure 51: Imports of magnesium containing less than 99.8%Mg by principal country, 2002 to 2006
• Figure 52: Imports of magnesium containing at least 99.8%Mg by principal country, 2002 to 2006
• Figure 53: Reporting countries: Division of exports of magnesium waste and scrap by principal country, 2006
• Figure 54: Exports of magnesium waste and scrap by principal country, 2002 to 2006
• Figure 55: Reporting countries: Division of imports of magnesium waste and scrap by principal country, 2006
• Figure 56: Imports of magnesium waste and scrap by principal country, 2002 to 2006
• Figure 57: Reporting countries: Division of exports of magnesium raspings, turnings, granules and powders, 2006
• Figure 58: Reporting countries: Exports of magnesium raspings, turnings, granules and powders by principal countries, 2002 to 2006
• Figure 59: Reporting countries: Division of imports of magnesium raspings, turnings, granules and powders, 2006
• Figure 60: Reporting countries: Imports of magnesium raspings, turnings, granules and powders by principal countries, 2002 to 2006
• Figure 61: Reporting countries: Division of exports of wrought magnesium articles, 2006
• Figure 62: Reporting countries: Exports of wrought magnesium articles by principal country, 2002 to 2006
• Figure 63: Reporting countries: Division of imports of wrought magnesium articles, 2006
• Figure 64: Reporting countries: Imports of wrought magnesium articles by principal country, 2002 to 2006
• Figure 65: Year-end magnesium prices 1915 to 2007
• Figure 66: Chinese quarterly prices for magnesium 99.8%Mg, 1999 to 2007
• Figure 67: Comparison of Chinese, USA and world mean quarterly prices of magnesium, 1999 to 2007
• Figure 68: Reported Chinese and European magnesium prices, April 2007 to January 2008
• Figure 69: USA: Western and dealer import spot prices for magnesium, 1994 to 2008