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Iron Ore Industry & Market Fundamentals Masterclass
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Iron Ore Industry & Market Fundamentals Masterclass

2-Day Training Course: THE Masterclass Covering All Things Iron Ore. Don’t miss this opportunity to build your understanding of the iron ore industry – this comprehensive course examines it all – its drivers & developments, its geology, geography, the industry structure, processes, markets, pricing & future developments – delivered by experts

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overview

Key Learning Objectives

  • Discover the iron ore geological genesis, major types, typical grade and physical properties
  • Appreciate the history of the modern iron ore industry
  • Recognise global major producing regions and trends
  • Understand extraction, processing and products
  • Understand metallurgy and applications of iron ore
  • Review land and sea transportation
  • Identify major iron ore producers – operations, products and future plans
  • Identify major steel producers – operations, products and future plans
  • Explain contract terms and pricing mechanisms
  • Appreciate industry issues – consolidation and international influences

About the Course

Australia’s iron ore industry underwent an incredible transformation in just six years, driven largely by China’s insatiable demand.

Billions of dollars of mine expansions have been (or are) being undertaken by the majors, whilst the next generation of iron ore players in the Pilbara, Mid-West and elsewhere are currently planning their own projects.

Chinese investment in the iron ore sector has increased significantly, with many of the smaller iron ore players securing major investment by Chinese companies in exchange for off-take agreements.

The iron ore pricing debate continues – BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and now Vale are all singing from the same hymn sheet in suggesting that the old benchmark system no longer suits the current times and that a move to index pricing or quarterly prices is the way of the future.

On the other hand, many buyers are still insisting that the benchmark system be retained, but only time will tell as developments unfold. Come and gain an insight into the implications of this debate, and the potential ramifications for the wider industry and the global iron ore trade.

This course is your opportunity to gain an understanding of the drivers behind the industry, and the nuances of the rapidly changing market conditions. It will cover all aspects – from mining to markets, and examine the international setting and influences of this global industry

Who Will Benefit

Australia’s iron ore industry underwent an incredible transformation in just six years, driven largely by China’s insatiable demand. Billions of dollars of mine expansions are being undertaken by the majors, whilst the next generation of iron ore players in the Pilbara, Mid-West and elsewhere are currently planning their own projects.

Chinese investment in the iron ore sector has increased significantly, with many of the smaller iron ore players securing major investment by Chinese companies in exchange for off-take agreements.

The iron ore pricing debate continues – BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and now Vale are all singing from the same hymn sheet in suggesting that the old benchmark system no longer suits the current times and that a move to index pricing or quarterly prices is the way of the future.

On the other hand, many buyers are still insisting that the benchmark system be retained, but only time will tell as developments unfold. Come and gain an insight into the implications of this debate, and the potential ramifications for the wider industry and the global iron ore trade.

This course is your opportunity to gain an understanding of the drivers behind the industry, and the nuances of the rapidly changing market conditions. It will cover all aspects – from mining to markets, and examine the international setting and influences of this global industry.

A CPD Course

Use this course to help fulfil your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) educational requirements to retain your professional/chartered status. Contact your relevant association to learn how

Course Outline

Introduction

An introduction to Ferrum Consultants, and the experience the team brings to the masterclass.

Iron Ore – What is it?

  • Geological genesis – A brief description of the general theories of iron ore deposition
  • Major ore types:
    • An analysis of their formation and relationship with each other
    • Hematite, magnetite, goethite, exotic
    • A description of the forms of occurrence, BIF, massive hematite, taconite, itabirite, CID, detrital, Marra Mamba and more
  • Typical grade and physical properties

Iron ore – Where is it?

  • An outline of global major producing regions
  • A review of recent, current and future production and exports
  • Products
  • Major players
  • Issues specific to each region which effect the iron ore industry including:
    • Australia
    • South America
    • North America
    • South Africa
    • India
    • China
    • Sweden
    • Central Europe/Russia

Iron ore – How is it used?

  • The iron and steel industry
    • Where did it start? History of development
    • Where is it today? What’s its current status?
  • Other aspects and issues of iron ore – Paint, pipe coating etc

Iron ore – How is it extracted and processed?

  • Mining methods
    • Underground, open cut, as a by-product (Olympic Dam)
    • An analysis of equipment used in the mining process
  • Mineral dressing/processing – An analysis of the various processing steps for major ore types; high grade hematite, CID, MM, detrital, magnetite, hematitic BIF, magnetic BIF
  • Products – an A-Z guide to the various final products and a review of the typical grade and physical properties:
    • Lumps
    • Fines
    • Concentrates
    • Pellets
  • Blending – why and how

Iron ore – How is it transported?

  • Inland
    • Major trade routes and tonnes
    • What is the future?
  • Sea
    • Major trade routes and tonnes
    • Major loadports and discharge points
    • Bulk shipping trade and its futures

Iron ore – Metallurgical processes

  • BF/BOF process
    • Raw materials/preparation
    • Plant configuration/flowsheet
    • Intermediate processes, (sinter, coke, reduction, smelting)
    • Products
  • DRI/HBI/EAF process
    • Raw materials/preparation
    • Plant configuration/flowsheet
    • Intermediate processes (reduction, smelting)
    • Products
  • Direct smelting
    • Raw materials/preparation
    • Plant configuration
    • Process
    • End products
  • Value in use
    • What is it, how is calculated?
    • How is it used?

History of the modern iron ore industry

  • The early years – What were the economic and political drivers?
  • The role of the JSM (Japanese Steel Mills)
  • The genesis of benchmark pricing
  • Where we are today?

Major producers

Details of operations, capacities and future plans of

  • Vale
  • Rio Tinto
  • BHP Billiton
  • Fortescue Metals
  • Arcelor Mittal
  • Anglo American
  • LKAB

Major consumers

Details of operations, capacities and future plans of

  • Arcelor-Mittal
  • JSM’s
  • Hebei Steel Group
  • POSCO
  • Baosteel
  • Shougang

Terms of trade

  • Market structure
  • How iron is sold
    • Types of contracts – FOB/CIF/FAS
    • Long term or spot contracts
    • Structure of contracts
    • Pricing mechanisms

Market dynamics and issues

  • The role of the BRICS (Brasil, Russia, India, China)
    • An analysis of the gap between steel intensity in BRICs and first world economies
    • What does this mean for the future?
  • Industry consolidation

Implications for the future

  • Recent activity
  • Future possibilities

On-site & in-house training

Deliver this course how you want, where you want, when you want – and save up to 40%! 8+ employees seeking training on the same topic?

Talk to us about an on-site/in-house & customised solution.

contact

Still have a question?

Sushil Kunwar
Training Consultant
+61 (0)2 9080 4395
training@informa.com.au

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