Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 12.9
Distribution of
iron ore exports in the world
(2012)
Fig. 12.10
Share of the
seaborne trade of iron ores
among resource companies
(2008). (Reuters,
http://www.
for such major companies in 2008. An oligopoly situation is seen as three major
companies, Vale, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, accounting for about 70 % of global
trading. It can be suggested that such a situation is one of the reasons for unstable
price fluctuations in iron ore resources. In addition, the influence of these interna-
tional major companies is also large in terms of coal resources.
12.4
Restructuring of Integrated Steel Companies
As mentioned above, iron ore and coal resources are now in an oligopoly situation,
held by a few massive companies. The negotiating power of the steel companies to
the price and property of iron ores has thus become relatively small. To compete
with major resource companies, international mergers and restructurings have thus
also been made in steel companies and it has accelerated from the end of 20th
