April 10 COVID-19 Southeast Asia Metals & Minerals Impact Report

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Metals & Minerals
The Vietnamese cement sector is beginning to shutter plants--a trend set by other countries in the region already on lockdown--as its government implements social-distancing measures nationwide. A majority of cement plants in Vietnam, Southeast Asia's largest cement-producing country, are still operational, but several companies have started suspending operations and delaying capacity-addition projects due to market conditions.

Indonesia and the Philippines' mining sectors are now feeling the effect of China's recent manufacturing shutdown. Coal and nickel demand remains low, and Chinese buyers are exercising caution in procuring additional feedstock amid existing import restrictions at various ports, such as Fuzhou and Xinsha, in south China.

Southeast Asian Countries:

Vietnam
Cement producers in Vietnam are still operational, with some producing below normal levels, as the sector struggles with rapidly declining cement demand locally and across Southeast Asia. Construction stoppages and transportation delays due to COVID-19 are forcing Vietnamese cement companies to follow the trend set by other countries in the region, as its government implements social-distancing measures that are expected to exacerbate the sector's difficulties.

Philippines
Plants outside of the Luzon quarantine zone are shutting down as local governments in different locations implement ordinances that are hindering plant and mining operations. A nickel smelter in the central Philippine islands has halted operations due to ore shortage, as several miners in Philippines' nickel-mining hub have voluntarily suspended operations after the provincial government sent orders to pause mining until the lockdown ends.

Indonesia
Indonesia miners are hit by weakened coal and nickel demand due to low manufacturing activities in Chinese factories as a result of the nation's COVID-19 response. Indonesian tin miner PT Timah has lowered its production to roughly 35% as tin demand declined, an effect of Chinese electronic factories stopping operations. Nickel smelters in the Sulawesi provinces have been disrupted due to workforce and equipment shortages in China.

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