World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association was 127 million tonnes in July 2011. This is 11.5% YoY higher than July 2010.

OneSteel Ltd has bought iron ore assets in South Australia including Peculiar Knob from WPG Resources Ltd for AUD 346 million, as it focuses more on iron ore exports.

Reuters reported that the global copper market had a surplus of 107,400 tonnes in the first 6 months of this year compared with a surplus of 84,000 tonnes for the whole of last year.

Sesa Goa Limited, which signed a Mineral Development Agreement with the government of Liberia, said that it will prioritize the employment and training of Liberians at its concession. According to a press release, Sesa signing of the MDA with the

Reuters reported that deteriorating demand from stainless steel mills and rising mine production are likely to push the nickel market into surplus in the second half of the year and put modest pressure on prices.

Centaurus Metals has positioned itself to expand the company's manganese exploration portfolio by entering into an option to acquire a project located in south eastern Brazil.

Dow Jones reported that state run Steel Authority of India has raised INR 4 billion (USD 87.5 million) through a bond sale, three people familiar with the matter said. The steelmaker raised the amount via 10 year bonds offering a yield of 9.30%.

Economic Times reports that Wildlife Society of Orissa has accused the Orissa government of not asking Essar Steel Orissa Ltd to stop dredging sand from the bed of River Mahanadi near Paradip in complete violation of the Coastal Regulatory Zone Notification, 2011.

Steel market has been expectant of a revival in European and MENA region after the summer and Ramadan holidays. Aspirations for the revival are based on absence of buying in the entire of Q2 in these regions owing to economic and political reasons.

According to the State Statistics Committee of Kazakhstan, in January to July of the current year Kazakhstan produced 2.926 million tonnes of crude steel up by 21.4%YoY.

Kommersant cited unidentified people close to the matter as saying that Mr Viktor Vekselberg Russian billionaire Renova Group is in talks to buy metals assets of Viktor Pinchuk EastOne LLC.

Reuters reported that ferronickel output at Indonesia's state owned nickel miner Aneka Tambang rose by 6% YoY in the first half of 2011 as compared with the same period of 2010. Mr Alwinsyah Lubis CEO of PT Antam said that ferronickel production in the