Gerald, one of the directors of BHP Group, serves as the manager of the mining development branch of the West Branch.
Compared with such a large company with a market value of more than 200 billion US dollars, Daming International is still just a small ant for the time being. Of course, no one will doubt the potential of this small ant, just like Microsoft back then.
After the two briefly introduced themselves, they quickly got down to business.
"Monthly supply of 100,000 tons of iron ore, 200,000 tons of aluminum ore, and 1,000 tons of 45% molybdenum concentrate..." Holding the contract handed over by Zhu Tian, Gerald repeated
He looked at it, his brows gradually furrowed.
"Is there any problem?" Zhu Tian asked.
"No, iron-aluminum ore is fine. But although this molybdenum ore is not a rare earth resource, its output has not been high, and the annual output has basically been booked." Gerald said helplessly.
"That's it." Zhu Tian frowned slightly.
The amount of molybdenum on the earth is small, accounting for only 0.001% of the weight of the crust. It has a wide range of applications, such as microcomputers, microprocessors, offshore oil and gas pipelines, and even some agricultural fertilizers.
All are useful.
However, there is another big use of this thing that no one has discovered yet, and that is that the neural access device of the virtual reality device must use this thing.
Although you can get some in the apocalypse by recycling waste, it is obviously impossible to mass-produce tens of thousands of them. So you can only find a way to do it here in this world.
"As for molybdenum ore, I suggest you try your luck in China. China is currently the world's largest producer of molybdenum ore. As for iron and aluminum ore, our company can still provide it."
"Let's talk about it. Put the molybdenum ore aside for now, let's talk about the price of iron and aluminum ore." Zhu Tian smiled helplessly.
If he goes to China to buy molybdenum concentrate, I'm afraid the Wang family won't let him buy it easily. It's too easy to get stuck on mineral resources. From mining, environmental protection, transportation, to customs, with the energy of the Wang family
, as long as he has some connections in any system, he can make this business impossible.
Where can I find this molybdenum mine? There are only two places, the Antarctic and the moon.
One international convention does not allow it, and one is temporarily out of reach technically.
It seems that I can only think of another way... Zhu Tian thought to himself.
After more than an hour of haggling and discussing trade details, the contract was finally settled.
Iron ore: US$52.2 per ton, importing 10,000 tons per month, totaling US$5.22 million, including tax!
Bauxite: US$8 per ton, importing 20,000 tons per month, totaling US$160,000.
The total transaction amount is US$21.22 million, which will be shipped from Darwin Port to Anga Island Port on the 1st of every month for a period of five years.
Although there is no deep-water port on Anga Island for the time being, Zhu Tian has already invested in the construction and is expected to complete two berths by the 1st of next month. Anga Island has a relatively high population base and is far away from the other eight islands.
It is suitable to be transformed into an industrial island focusing on manufacturing, so a deep-water port with moderate throughput is still necessary.
In one afternoon, he signed a large order for the company with a monthly revenue of over 10 million U.S. dollars. Naturally, Gerard was beaming with joy. After negotiating the contract, Zhu Tian did not leave immediately, but chatted with him about mining.
industry.
Gerald also answered all of Zhu Tian's questions. For example, he also told Zhu Tian about the sluggish iron ore trading volume in 2016 and the low price of rare earths.
.In fact, these information can be obtained with just a little search on the Internet, so there is no secret at all.
"Can I take the liberty to ask? As far as I know, your company's main business is in the Internet field. Why does it need to acquire large quantities of iron ore?" Gerald asked.
"Is your company still particular about the use of the buyer's minerals?" Zhu Tian joked.
"I'm just a little curious. Of course, if it's inconvenient, forget it. This question will not affect our cooperation." Seeing that Zhu Tian was not going to answer, Gerald smiled and apologized for his abruptness.
"I'm really sorry. This question is a business secret. I can't answer you... To express my apology, please allow me to invite you to dinner." Zhu Tian said.
"Haha, I'm very happy. I know there is a very good restaurant in Melbourne. How about being my car..." Gerald readily accepted Zhu Tian's invitation.
It happened to be time to get off work, so the two of them left the company and went to a Brazilian-style barbecue restaurant near Melbourne.
From the facade, this barbecue restaurant is no different from Chinese street food. In the semi-open store, the owner, who is obviously not Brazilian, is grilling brown meat slices on the charcoal stove. The greasy aroma seduce people walking by.
Tourists passing by.
Sitting at the bar-like table in a bar, it didn't take long for the plates to be brought to the two of them.
Two bottles of cold beer, four plates of barbecue, Zhu Tian was hooked.
“Is the outlook for the mining industry bad right now?”
"It's not bad, but I'm afraid it will get worse." After talking about work, Gerald sighed.
"Because of the economic situation?" Zhu Tian asked casually.
"In a nutshell, it's the economy, and the fundamental reason is demand." Gerald took a sip of beer and let out a hearty breath, as if he was letting out the troubles he had accumulated in his chest.
"Can you tell me more carefully?" Zhu Tian asked with a smile while holding the barbecue skewers.
He still has a lot of interest in mining.
"For example, if you build a 5-square-meter building, you will need about 3 tons of steel. But once the house is built, the potential demand for steel will be reduced by these 3 tons. Not just houses, but all manufactured products from cars to screws.
All. Then the steel plants cut production, the mining farms also cut production, and the economy was ruined." As he spoke, Gerald smiled.
Although Zhu Tian doesn't understand what's so interesting about this.
"Is it okay to tell me these things?"
"No problem. It's time to get off work now." Gerald waved his hand and said arrogantly: "Besides, even if the company lays off employees, it won't be my turn."
"In other words, the overall trend of iron ore prices is downward?"
"Yes, it could still reach US$2.1 per ton in 2008. Now, US$1.95 is pretty good."
"According to your statement, the mining industry is hopeless." Zhu Tian said with a smile.
"Not necessarily. Unless there is a technological breakthrough." Gerald shook the glass containing the beer.
"Yes, unless there is a huge technological change, such as everyone throwing away the cars they are using now. Just like everyone threw away the hand spinning machine in 1765, and people threw away the steam engine in 1885...
..It’s too far off topic, hey! Speaking of which, I still envy you.”
"envious
I have many people.”
"I'm not talking about money, but your industry. Don't you think the IT industry is the field most prone to technological breakthroughs?" Gerald wiped a piece of barbecue and said with a smile.
"It is also the industry most prone to bankruptcy." Zhu Tian teased.
Gerald was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. Infected by the laughter, Zhu Tian couldn't help but laugh too.
Looking at the two people who seemed to be on edge, pedestrians passing by on the street looked sideways.
...
When Zhu Tian returned to the hotel drunkenly, it was already ten o'clock in the evening. The foreigner was unexpectedly chatty and funny. Zhu Tian and him talked about everything from the customs of Australia to the grilled fish in his hometown of Hucheng. In short, he talked about speculation.
The two of them chatted unknowingly until late at night while eating barbecue and drinking beer.
When leaving, Zhu Tian and Gerald exchanged business cards and then said goodbye.
The hangover was uncomfortable, but with Zhu Tian's metabolic rate, it took him a while to recover from the discomfort when he got up the next day.
Due to the unexpected smooth signing of the contract, the next day, which was originally scheduled to be very busy, was actually free.
So Zhu Tian, who was free, decided to take a good stroll here.
But Zhu Tian did meet an unexpected person outside...
...
"Feifei, will you marry me?" A man holding a rose in his hand kneeled in front of a beautiful girl and looked at her affectionately and said.
However, the proposal in front of the church did not seem to impress the girl.
"Didn't we agree that we'll talk about marriage when you stabilize?"
Jerry Yang?
Looking along the sound, Zhu Tian looked at the man standing next to the bench with some surprise.
He really didn't expect that he would meet his college roommate here?!
After graduating from college, the four people in the same dormitory basically went their separate ways. Except for the occasional phone call in the first two months to check on how they were doing, as a new social circle was formed, the four of them rarely met each other again.
They have been contacted. Even if Zhu Tian finally became famous, none of the three people contacted him.
As for the reason, Zhu Tian could more or less understand it. It was probably because he couldn't save face.
To ignore others when they are not doing well, and then shamelessly stick to them when they are famous is a bit of a philistine feeling in it.
The relationship was not particularly deep originally, and a few years after graduation, the relationship became even more watery. The three of them were all relatively respectable people, so they never contacted Zhu Tian again.
If we don't keep in touch, we can at least chat with friends and colleagues - "That so-and-so, we used to be in the same dormitory, and he and I chatted and laughed happily."
Zhu Tian still has some impressions of this Yang Zhiyuan. Although they are not in the same major as him, the friendship between the two is surprisingly good. This guy is the top student in their dormitory, and his family background is not bad.
Zhu Tian only vaguely remembered that he went to a prestigious university in Australia to study for graduate school after graduation. Before leaving, he told Zhu Tian that he must come to see him if he had the opportunity to come to Australia in the future. He would then host a dinner or something.
...
Of course, Zhu Tian also knew that it was a polite statement!