Crisis leads to plummeting iron prices. - The slowdown in the world economy is now affecting the mining industry. Pre-negotiations between the mining groups and their customers held at the beginning of this month in Qingdao (China) reveal that iron ore (a raw material crucial for making steel) prices could fall by 10-20% next year, following an 85% jump this year. If this is borne out, the fall could provide some oxygen to steel manufacturers and their main customers such as car...