• UK company Magma Ceramics & Catalysts has bought a 6000-square-meter manufacturing building in Vietnam to support its ceramics division, situated between Hanoi and Haiphong. Building modifications will commence in February 2013 with commercial production expected to begin later this year.
• AGC Glass Co. North America has officially restarted its “G1” float glass line at its Greenland manufacturing plant in Hawkins County, Tennessee. An additional 100 jobs have been created as a result of restarting the line.
• Glass segment sales at PPG Industries were $241 million for quarter four, down $15 million from the prior year. Higher flat glass sales were offset by lower fiberglass volumes and pricing.
• Turkish glassmaker Trakya Cam Sanayii bought a 45 percent stake in India’s HNG Float Glass Ltd. through a joint venture agreement on Jan. 11, 2013.
• Confidence in the US construction market was down for the second half of 2012, according to the latest report from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). “Last year, the biggest issue was the fiscal cliff,” says ABC chief economist Anirban Basu. “This year, worries likely will stem from a combination of unresolved fiscal cliff issues and another potentially intense debt ceiling debate”.
• According to Visiongain, the global glass packaging market is growing and has recovered from the global financial recession from a production standpoint, however overall demand is still wanting. The glass packaging market as a whole is a mature sector, but certain subsectors post growth rates that would be more associated with a dynamic market. These subsectors, however, do not affect the overall momentum of the market. Visiongain assesses the glass packaging market will reach $36.8 billion in 2013.
• A report from Asian Metal predicts that US demand for refractories is projected to grow 3.3 percent per annum to $2.6 billion in 2016. Output of steel in the US will grow following a period of decline, driving demand for refractories.
• In Iran, some 744,000 tons of glass have been produced since March 20, 2012, according to Shata News. This would mark a 9.4 percent growth compared to the figure for the same period of year before.
• Tata Steel Ltd., India’s third-largest steel producer, has halted production at its chromite mine in Sukinda in Orissa following the expiration of its mining lease on Jan. 12.
• E&M Group Inc. is pleased to report that it has ratified a share exchange agreement with PT.E&M Indonesia, an Indonesian mining company. By acquiring PT.E&M Indonesia, E&M Group will take the major step forward to become a significant player in producing iron sand, and zircon.
• Mineral sands producer Iluka Resources said its production volumes fell by nearly a third in 2012 as it trimmed output in response to weak demand for products used in ceramics and paints.