Demand for germanium, which is a key material in space-based solar energy applications, is expected by market participants to see growth in the coming years, on the back of the increase in satellite launches and progress made in large-scale satellite internet constellation projects, sources told Fastmarkets.

Wogen Resources has signed a binding offtake agreement with Australian antimony miner Larvotto Resources for the sales rights of the miner’s upcoming antimony-gold concentrate produced during the first seven years of mining, the companies confirmed with Fastmarkets on Monday December 2.

Liberty Steel will idle operations at its Peoria, Illinois, facility starting Monday December 9 through “at least” February 3 “due to a shortage of wire rod and financial difficulties,” an industry observer familiar with the company’s operations said on Monday December 2.

Gallium, germanium and magnesium were listed among the top 10 priority materials that could face significant supply chain disruptions, according to a report published by the British Geological Survey (BGS)-hosted Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC) on Thursday November 28.

With the race to decarbonize the steel sector gathering pace around the world, Fastmarkets reached out to subject experts in Europe, to discuss the major challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the new, green steel landscape.

The French corn harvest advanced by 7 percentage points in the week to Monday November 25, with 89% of the total planted area now harvested, according to the latest weekly report from FranceAgriMer.