Goeller Verlag

China Refractories Production in 2010 The Chinese refractories production in 1949 was only 70 000 t, but that in 2010 recorded 28 Mt, accounting for over 60 % of the world’s total.

Norway Norsk Hydro Second Quarter 2011 Hydro had underlying earnings before financial items and tax of NOK 1906 million in the second quarter, up from NOK 1448 million in the first quarter. Higher realized alumina and aluminum prices combined with higher volumes supported underlying results for the quarter.

India Graphite India with Improved Net Profit Graphite India reported a 7,2 % rise in net profit at EUR 5,8 million (INR 368,7 million) for the first-quarter (Q1) ended June 30, 2011, compared to a EUR 5,4 million (INR  343,9 million) net in the corresponding quarter previous fiscal.

Germany / Spain Beroa Increased Its Order Income Beroa, a worldwide leader in refractory material engineering and installation and chimney construction, increased its order income by 15 % during the first six months of 2011 compared to the same period in the previous year.

United Arab Emirates Emal Board Approves Smelter Phase 2 Emirates Aluminium (Emal) will go ahead with a EUR 3,11 billion (USD 4,5 billion) expansion that will boost the aluminum smelter’s capacity to around 1,3 Mt by the end of 2014.

Great Britain / Mexico Dragon Kilns Joins Forces with Nutec Bickley Following talks concluded during the recent GIFA exhibition in Düsseldorf/DE, it has been announced that Dragon Kilns/GB will be joining forces with Nutec Bickley/MX with immediate effect.

Great Britain / Saudi Arabia Morgan Thermal Ceramics to Supply Refractory Modules to SATORP Refinery Project Morgan Thermal Ceramics has been awarded a contract to supply Superwool® 607® HT Pyro-Bloc® Modules as part of a refinery being constructed by the Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Company (SATORP), a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and TOTAL S.A.

Vietnam Start of Alumina Production in September Vietnam will produce the first alumina from a bauxite complex in the Central Highlands in September.

World June 2011 Crude Steel Production World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 128 Mt in June. This is 8 % higher than June 2010.

Great Britain Rio Tinto Second Quarter 2011 Operations Review Chief executive Tom Albanese said “this quarter´s growth programme was boosted by the successful EUR 2,83 billion acquisition of Riversdale, giving us further options to develop our tier one assets.”