Chinese government adds Mn, Cr, W ,SB,IN and so on to strategical stockpiles

The Central Government of China announced on the 7th of January to accelerate the Whole Country Mineral Resources Plan (2008 – 2015). In addition to such tightened mineral materials as oil and so on, several items will be supplemented for strategical stockpiles.

According to this plan, in addition to oil and special grade coal, such important mineral resources as coal, copper, chrome, manganese, tungsten, rare earths, and so on, supplies of which have tightened, are supplemented for strategical stockpiles. At the same time, the Government will complete the mechanism to control and operate the stockpiles, in order to connect important mineral materials with its resources, and promote the scheme for strategical stockpiles through rational allotments by enterprises.

This plan for strategical stockpiles to be promoted in China is to set up a similar organization to that, which Japanese Government has already organized in cooperation between officials and people to stockpile important mineral materials and to operate them, and it is thought that Chinese Government has also aimed to stockpile strategical mineral materials as mentioned above and to operate them. – TEX Report

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Chinese steel mills restart purchase of ferromanganese

It is reported that current domestic FeMn market runs steady as steel mills start to restock.

High Carbon Ferro Manganese tends upward with mainstream price at CNY 8300 per tonne to CNY 8500 per tonne. Guangxi Bayi Steel firstly raised purchase price by CNY 200 per tonne to CNY 8700 per tonne ex factory for HCFeMn.

Export prices of HCFeMn stand at USD 1500 per tonne FOB and USD 1700 per tonne FOB respectively. Medium Carbon Ferro Manganese is quoted in disorder now as most makers are still suspending production makes slim spot goods available in the market. MCFeMn 78C2.0 price is at CNY 10,500 per tonne to CNY 12,500 per tonne and 78C1.5 at CNY 11,500 per tonne to CNY 13,500 per tonne but the real executive price of 78C2.0 which is slight higher price in the north is said at around CNY 11,000 per tonne.

Low Carbon Ferromanganese generally stays at CNY 14,000 per tonne and almost no spot goods are available now. – MySteel.net

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Ukraine cuts ferroalloy output 79% in Jan

Ukraine reduced ferroalloy production 79% year-on-year on average in January, the Ukrainian Ferroalloy Producers' Association said Friday.

Nikopol Ferroalloy Works (NFW), the biggest of Ukraine's three ferroalloy smelters, reduced output 79.1% to 18,300 tonnes of ferroalloys. Silicon manganese production fell 69.8% to 18,100 tonnes and ferromanganese production was just 200 tonnes, compared with 27,700 tonnes in January 2007.

Zaporizhiya Ferroalloy Works (ZFW) cut production 78% to 9,300 tonnes of ferroalloys: 45%-ferrosilicon was down 51.5% to 3,200 tonnes, silicon manganese fell 89.5% to 2,600 tonnes and ferromanganese fell 73.8% to 2,700 tonnes, however manganese metal production rose 60% to 800 tonnes.

Stakhanov Ferroalloy Works (SFW) slashed output 78.9% to 4,500 tonnes of ferroalloys, including 4,500 tonnes of 45%-ferrosilicon, down 58.7% year-on-year, but no silicon manganese.

The country's two manganese concentrate producers, the Ordzhonikidze and Marhanets mining and beneficiation plants, did not produce anything in January because demand was low and they still had inventory to clear. – Interfax

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Antimony ingot prices still rising

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 11 Feb 09 – Despite that consumers are reluctant to accept the increasing price, producers continue to lift their offers for antimony ingot in the name of tight supply. Some producers have started to quote RMB30,000-31,000/t ex works for the material, market sources reported to Asian Metal.
A Hunan-based antimony ingot producer just resumed production but has not started to offer. "We received several inquiries last week. Some buyers bid RMB28,000/t ex works early last week and RMB29,000/t ex works at the end of last week, but we did not sell the material as we think the price is likely to rise further," said the source.
The source said that the supply is tight as most smelters have just resumed production without much material to put into the market. Additionally, some consumers who did not make purchase before the Spring Festival may be anxious for raw material in order to maintain production. Therefore, the source predicts that the market will continue its upward trend in the following two weeks.
With a capacity of 300tpm, the smelter holds a certain quantity of antimony ingot in stock. The source revealed that their previous deal was concluded at around RMB26,000/t ex works in late January.
An antimony trioxide producer, with a capacity of 2,000tpy, confirmed that the antimony ingot price is still hiking. "We received a few inquiries for antimony trioxide, but we have not taken those orders as we failed to replenish the stock of antimony ingot," said the source.
The source revealed that some producers increased their offers of antimony ingot to RMB31,000/t ex works early this week, up from RMB28,000-29,000/t ex works a week ago. As buyers resist the price increase of antimony trioxide, antimony trioxide producers are put into dilemma.
The source also believes that the antimony ingot market will continue to rise in rest of this month, but it may calm down in early March when more material is found in the market.

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Antimony producers expect higher price

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 2 Feb 09 – Most Chinese antimony ingot producers are not back from the Spring Festival holiday. They expect higher prices for antimony ingot in the following two or three weeks as the market supply seems comparatively tight.
An official from a Hunan-based antimony ingot smelter anticipates that the price of the material might rise to RMB30,000/t (USD4,380/t) ex works before long due to tight availability. "We received a few inquiries before and during the holiday, but we would not like to sell because we predicted the price would go higher," said the source.
According to the source, the smelter, with a capacity of 2,000tpy, stopped production in the second half of last month and planned to resume production after the Lantern Festival. "We have a stock of 200-300t on hand, but we're not going to sell at the moment," said the source, adding that the most recent deal was concluded at around RMB25,500/t (USD3,723/t) ex works VAT excluded late last month.
Another Hunan-based antimony ingot producer also takes a high expectation on the future market. "The antimony market is chaotic now. Producers are talking the price up in the name of tight supply," said the source. According to the source, antimony ingot 99.65%min is being offered in a wide range of RMB26,500-28,000/t (USD3,869-4,088/t) ex works, and some producers quote as high as RMB27,500/t ex works VAT excluded. However, there are few deals concluded for the time being. On the one hand, most producers have not returned to the market; on the other hand, consumers are not ready to accept the high price at RMB27,000-28,000/t (USD3,942-4,088/t) ex works.
"Nevertheless, we have confidence in concluding deals at higher prices given that not only antimony ingot is in tight supply, but antimony concentrate, the raw material is also very hard to obtain," said the source.
The source also expects the antimony ingot price to breach RMB30,000/t (USD4,380/t) ex works before long, but it is too early to predict the market in March and April.
With a capacity of 200tpm, the smelter is also out of production and plans not restart until the Lantern Festival.

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