csm and nickel sth african report

CSM had a well earned breather yesterday. The report below might also be a reason for the good run in csm last week.

Noticed this in my News Alerts this morning

The Rush that never ended
Mineweb - Johannesburg,South Africa
... Consolidated Minerals is producing manganese and chromite and capitalising on the rapid growth of the middle classes in China and the associated boom in ...


http://www.mineweb.net/columns/down_under/351730.htm

Consolidated Minerals is producing manganese and chromite and capitalising on the rapid growth of the middle classes in China and the associated boom in stainless-steel requirements. The company is also looking towards nickel production in the belief that the long-term price outlook is strong. Offtake agreements with Chinese consumers account for half of the business; this is effected through one of the company’s shareholders, which is a Hong Kong based commodity trading company and which absorbs any financial risk.

Russian and Ukrainian customers are on the books and a recent supply agreement has been signed with an Indian counterparty to take advantage of the forecast burgeoning Indian demand for stainless. The company has 5 percent of the world’s manganese supply, while the CEO argues that its chromite has a competitive advantage in that it is very hard ore, which is lower cost than finer, friable ore.