Metals: Despite high prices and strong demand for many metals and
minerals, mining companies are finding it harder to make new projects
profitable. As a result, companies are delaying projects or closing
mines. BHP Billiton, Perilya and Teck Cominco have all announced
closures or plans to limit output of some mines. Soaring costs for
energy, building materials and, for nickel produces, sulfuric acid, are
largely to blame. Customers are also finding alternatives to metals,
leading to some erosion in demand. In addition, prices for zinc and
nickel have fallen recently.
Source: Wall Street Journal
COPYRIGHT 2008 Strategic Directions International
Inc. (SDI) Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
Copyright 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights
reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.
NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.