Manganese Metals Flakes price rises again in China

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 7 Aug 09 - Manganese price rebounds again from around RMB14,000/t (USD2,050/t) ex works as the suppliers are reluctant to sell while more tenders come from downstream buyers. Most smelters claim they have low stocks at hand and raise the offer to RMB14,300/t (USD2,094/t) ex works.
A Hunan-based smelter with some deals to be fulfilled this month told Asian Metal that the price rebounds again in the area and they raise their offer to RMB14,300/t (USD2,094/t) ex works from about RMB14,000-14,100/t (USD2,050-2,064/t). "Supply is tight in the spot market in and out of China and as the economy recovers in the global area, participants are gaining confidence," said the source, with very few materials left this month for extra deals. The source reported that their smelter is in normal production with a capacity of 1,500tpm.
The source feels many suppliers are reluctant to sell when the market remains unstable, especially as the production cost keeps increasing with manganese ore price rising. "Some smelters or dealers may hold some stocks at hand, which would increase the flexibility of the market performance late this month, but now we don't think the inventory is huge yet." The source mainly focuses on domestic market and has no export business for long, but according to the source, it is a bit difficult for the buyers to accept a price above USD2,700/t FOB while it would be less profitable for Chinese suppliers to sell at USD2,650-2,700/t FOB than in domestic.
Another Guangxi-based smelter told Asian Metal that they released 300 tons of manganese flakes at RMB14,100/t (USD2,064/t) ex works last week and currently, the price rises a bit to about RMB14,200/t (USD2,079/t) ex works, pushed by more demand from overseas market. "We may see the market to go stable at current price level, as the increasing inventories in China may hinder the price from rising further," said the source, thinking the market is of little possibility to drop soon as the production cost is high.
The source thinks many suppliers are reluctant to make a deal in a hurry, as the future trend is not very clear. Currently, demand from overseas market is increasing due to the tight supply. They are about to sell some manganese ingot in Rotterdam but may not attract many buyers at the offer of USD3,000/t. But the source thinks the recovery of the overseas market would help to hold the manganese market from dropping too quickly in China.

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China Halts Issue of Antimony, Tungsten Mine Licenses to Mid-2010

HONG KONG, July 29 -- China has suspended the issuing of new antimony and tungsten mining licenses until end-June 2010 in a bid to protect the country's reserves of the minerals, which have fallen in recent years due to excessive mining, a source at state-run metals information provider Beijing Antaike said Wednesday.

"The state's halting of mining licenses should control domestic antimony and tungsten mining activities this year and prevent a rapid fall in reserves," the Antaike source said. "However, we don't rule out the possibility that some smaller mines will open stealthily," he added.

Other industry insiders in China said demand for antimony and tungsten had slumped as a result of the global economic slowdown and suggested the suspension was more a bid to shore up prices.

Ganzhou Tungsten Industry Association set a domestic guide price for tungsten concentrate at Yuan 63,000/mt ($9,222/mt) for July, below the average in 2008 of Yuan 83,400/mt.

China in May capped domestic antimony concentrate and tungsten concentrate output for 2009 at 90,180 mt and 68,555 mt, respectively, to control the mining of strategic metal resources.

In 2008, China produced 84,470 mt tungsten concentrate, up 5% from 2007, China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association data showed. But domestic tungsten concentrate consumption totaled only 50,500 mt in 2008, according to the China Tungsten Industry Association.

China produced 49,339 mt of tungsten concentrate during the first half of this year, up 32.86% year on year, CNIA figures showed. Antimony concentrate output data for 2008 and H1 2009 figure was unavailable.

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Manganese briquette price goes up

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 23 Jul 09 - Manganese briquette price rises to about USD2,100/t FOB with manganese price going up. Sources reported that there are some inquiries from Europe and Middle East but buyers feel a bit reluctant to buy at current price.
A Xiangxi-based trader received an inquiry from Europe who intends to purchase about one to two cargos of manganese briquette. "We are unwilling to accept a price below USD2,060/t FOB, about USD50/t higher than our last offer," said the source, claiming higher manganese price adds to the production cost of manganese briquette.
The source has some stocks in Rotterdam warehouse and offers USD2,100/t in warehouse Rotterdam to end user. However, demand is very slow while the consumers only purchase from hand to mouth. And very few of them are ready to stock for the moment as the market takes time to recover. Some end users are inquiring for supply after the holiday.
Another Changsha-based trader received an offer from another local supplier who offered USD2,100/t FOB, up from USD2,050/t FOB last week. "Manganese supply in China seems a bit tight and the price keeps increasing and pushes manganese briquette price up," said the source.
The source also receives an inquiry from India but the buyers only expect to buy some at about USD2,000/t FOB for the moment and some even try to purchase some at USD2,000/t CIF Nhava Sheva, but no Chinese supplier is interested in such a low price.
However, many participants are not very optimistic about the future market and expect the price to slide in August when they believe demand would drop greatly from overseas market. And they feel reluctant to purchase at current high price unless the demand is urgent.

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Chinese Domestic Tin Plate Prices Soars

BEIJING, July 21 -- Due to the general increase of domestic steel price, the tin plate price increased propelled by the cost.

The latest monthly EXW price of Xindzhong Steel Sheet in the East China continued increasing up CNY 200 per tonne around over last month. Currently 0.2x800mm of tin coil price is CNY 6,900 per tonne including tax, accumulatively lifted about CNY 400 per tonne in 2 months. The company said that presently with the growths of other steel price, tin plate price also increased.

However, source from the markets said that that Baosteel made tin plate price dropped in this month over last month, such as 0.2x800mm of tin plate, down from CNY 8,000 per tonne to CNY 7800 per tonne around. The specifics depend on the specification.

A trader thought that the current demand was not optimistic and the price rising mainly resulted from cost growth, especially those manufacturers who need to buy raw materials to roll. He also expected that the price was not truly stable.

(Source: Alibaba.com)

Last Updated: July 21, 2009 11:30 Beijing Time

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Magnesium ingot price rises mildly in South Korea

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 21 Jul 09 – With Chinese magnesium ingot prices increasing on slightly stronger domestic demand and decreased stockpiles, South Korean buyers reported that they received higher offers for magnesium ingot. However, buyers said the demand for the material has not seen significant improvement.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com 3D44
A South Korean trader reported that offers for magnesium ingot that they received this week were in a range of USD2,540-2,570/t FOB Chinese main ports, USD30-40/t higher than the offers two weeks ago.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com 6V5Z
Meanwhile, the source reported that he purchased a batch of magnesium ingot from a Chinese trader at an unusually low price of USD2,460/t FOB Chinese main port at the beginning of July but most other suppliers quoted USD2,500-2,520/t FOB Chinese main ports at that time.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com O298
The source imports two or three containers of magnesium ingot every month from China to serve domestic end users. He has not seen any significant improvement in the demand side. However, the source believes that the magnesium demand may get better in the fourth quarter of this year with global economy climbing out of recession slowly.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com M6J6
Having not received new inquiries from customers, the source is not in a hurry to supplement stocks at the moment.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com 3AU4
A South Korean consumer in chemical industry reportedly received higher offers for magnesium ingot this week. The source bought four containers of magnesium powder 99.95%min with special requirements on content of silicon and some other impurity at USD2,650/t CIF Busan at the beginning of July.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com STX0
"We plan to make next purchase at the end of July, but offers we received from suppliers are USD20-30/t higher than our last purchase," said the source. "We were told that Chinese domestic market experienced a price increase, and that's why suppliers quoted higher price to us."
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com P1I9
Meanwhile, the source confirmed that the demand for magnesium ingot has not improved in South Korea as consumers in steel, auto as well as chemical industries are still not active in purchasing the material.

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Suppliers reluctant to sell antimony products makes price rise sharply with market close to be out

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 21 Jul 09 - Antimony ingot plants are reluctant to sell due to the tight supply and the good expectation towards the future market, which makes price rise further though with few deals concluded. Some plants offer around RMB38,000-39,000/t (USD5,563-5,710/t) to depress buyers from buying.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com 87DN
Shortage of antimony concentrate supply pushes the producers to raise offers. As the government restricts nation's exploitation of antimony concentrate, and strengthened supervision and control over denudation, many antimony ingot plants are faced with the problem of insufficient supply of antimony concentrate, together with decreasing high quality antimony ore due to continuously exploitation for many years.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com 14GB
Antimony ingot plants all increase offers due to tight supply, and antimony concentrate suppliers further raise offers seeing antimony ingot price up, which causes antimony ingot producers to rush to buy, and thus the price of antimony ingot and antimony ore goes up by turns. As the situation fluctuates rapidly, most antimony producers do not dare to purchase antimony concentrate for fear of price decreasing in the near term. Meanwhile many plants limit output, which further results in higher prices.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com CVRX
A producer in Hunan are worried about the current situation. "Most plants still have some inventories. On one hand, people hope the price to rise further for more profits, On the other hand, as they do not dare to replenish stocks at current high prices, they are reluctant to release any stocks on hand," said the source. However, the source are worried that buyers may not purchase materials when price goes up to a certain level, and dealers, especially traders may lower offers for deals, which may cause producers to close out.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com 920T
The factories produce around more than 100t of antimony ingot every month, and their latest deal was made at the end of June at around ex-works RMB31,500/t (USD4,612/t). The source has not sold any materials since July till now after signing this long-term contracts, and now has a monthly trading volume of less than around 50-60t. "We did not offer in the past week as most local plants, and we do not know how to decide an offer," said the source. However, the source claimed that they will not sell at below ex-works RMB37000/t (USD5,417/t).
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com X645
Affected by the rapid increase of antimony price, antimony trioxide producers are forced to increase offers. According to the current situation, some plants have increased antimony trioxide offers to around ex-works RMB33000-34000/t (USD4,832-4,978/t), RMB3000-4000/t (USD439-586/t) higher than the offer last week, which the consumers can not accept. Some antimony trioxide producers have to halt production under such a bad situation.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com FJ6E
The sharply rising price of antimony ingot and antimony trioxide in domestic market makes antimony export market fall stagnant. Some foreign buyers bid around USD5500/kg and USD4900/kg but still can hardly purchase any material. It is now difficult to find enough supply and they halt export to avoid risking. Therefore it is estimated that this may result in tightening supply and increase the price in international market.

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Manganese Metals Flakes market still firm

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 17 Jul 09 - Manganese market remains firm in China with offers going up to RMB13,200-13,500/t ex works. The export market also sees some inquiries and tenders from overseas market with the offer staying above USD2,450/t FOB. Manganese briquette offer goes up to USD2,050/t FOB for the moment.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com 5Y7K
A South Korean trader received an inquiry of 200t for manganese flakes. "As the quantity is large, some Chinese suppliers are ready to sell at USD2,410/t CIF Pusan to compete for the deal, but the price is high at around USD2,450/t CIF for deals below 100 tons," said the source. The source also received an offer of USD2,060/t CIF Brazil for 100 tons of manganese briquette
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com 8Q99
Another Shanghai-based agent reported that they received no inquiry from their Japanese customers. The source reported some domestic suppliers raise their offer to USD2,500/t FOB but few foreign buyers are willing to accept above USD2,450/t FOB. However, as the price in China remains firm at above RMB13,200/t (USD1,933/t) ex works, the source feels it difficult to persuade the smelters to accept lower prices for export.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com T03V
A Taiwan-based trader is about to purchase 20 tons of manganese flakes but failed to find a good supplier. As the quantity is too low, most suppliers insist on a price above USD2,450/t FOB, but the source only expects to buy at USD2,350-2,400/t FOB.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com 6LSR
Participants claim there are still manganese metals delivered through Vietnam at much lower prices of only around USD2,200-2,300/t CIF India or Rotterdam. But as the Chinese Customs is now investigating this matter, many participants expect the market to return to normal.

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