[+/-] : European antimony trioxide market sees no activity

Lack of demand, European antimony trioxide market remained quiet this wee.
A European trader disclosed that he received an offer of 99.5%min antimony trioxide at USD5,480/t FOB China. "I think this is too expensive, and I will discuss with the producer see if I can get at least USD30/t decrease," said the source.
He disclosed to Asian Metal that European market had been very quiet lately that he had not even received one inquiry in the last few days. "Things are not going well; we will have very bad impact from American economy soon, and demand of many commodities will not be strong," the source remarked pessimistically.
Another trader confirmed the weak market in Europe that he also received no inquiry this week and offers received for both in warehouse and CIF Rotterdam had dropped. According to him, the price is around USD5,600/t in warehouse Rotterdam, and USD5,500-5,550/t CIF Rotterdam, but consumers are not interested.
He thinks that the weakening economy is driving all metal market down at the moment, and it is difficult to see price recovers this year. "There is not many supply from China because of Olympic Games, but demand in Europe is even fewer," said the trader.

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[+/-] : European antimony trioxide prices drop in US Dollar

16 Sep 08 – Because of the slow demand, prices of antimony products continue to fall in the Chinese export market. However, the European market participants holds that the prices are falling in US Dollar, but still expensive in EURO.
An official from a European consumer disclosed to Asian Metal that the price of 99.5%min antimony trioxide further to slightly below USD5,600/t CIF Rotterdam, but exchange of EURO had dropped from the highest 1.58 against USD to current 1.40-1.42. "Compare the 2-3% dropping in the antimony trioxide price with the 10% decrease of currency, the antimony price is mostly paid in USD, and we are paying more," the official remarked.
The source sees the supply of antimony is tight in the world market. However, he added: "the demand is even shorter." He takes that the reasons for the weak demand are weak economy in general and the possibilities of using alternatives.
A trader disclosed to Asian Metal that the price of antimony trioxide is softening, and market is very quiet at the moment. According to him, the offers from China fall to the range of USD5,600-5,650/t CIF Rotterdam from USD5,700/t CIF a week ago. "No deals I heard concluded in Europe, so cannot give a price for prompt material in Rotterdam warehouse."
AsiHe agrees that some consumers are paying more for the raw material when they pays in EURO, and antimony is a products which is dealt in USD most of the time.
He holds that economy is very slow in Europe, and also calm down in Asia, so demand of antimony trioxide is not going to pick up for the rest of the year. "Antimony market will just remain quiet for the next few months," said the trader, pessimistically.

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[+/-] : Antimony trioxide export market dips in China

10 Sep 08 – Chinese exporters reported few deals with the concluded price decreasing. Participants believe it is the reasonable for the adjustment of the market itself as buyers have purchased a lot in the past months.
A large South China-based trioxide smelter stated that they quote USD5,600/t FOB China for antimony trioxide 99.5%min, and the deals could be concluded at USD5,500/t FOB China, down from USD5,600-5,700/t FOB China two to three weeks ago.
The source revealed that it is very difficult to conclude deals at USD5,600/t FOB China for famous brand materials. He puts the mainstream price for all kinds of antimony trioxide at USD5,400-5,500/t FOB China this week, down by around USD100/t from two weeks ago.
Another large South China-based trioxide smelter reported several deals at USD5,500/t FOB China, down from the last deal of USD5,600/t FOB China in the end of August. "The market has been very quiet in the recent two weeks and the price decreased by around USD100/t from two weeks ago," said the source, believing that it is reasonable for the price to go down as buyers has purchased a lot in the usual quiet season in July and August. However, they still hold stocks on hand. Therefore, there are fewer inquiries from buyers now than in August.

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[+/-] : Chinese antimony trioxide market drops

10 Sep 08 – Chinese antimony market drops this week as buyers stay away from the market and stop making purchases because they believe the market is going to decrease further.
An export enterprise supplier reported deals of antimony trioxide 99.5%min with exporters at around RMB37,000/t down from RMB37,000-37,500/t several days ago. The price for domestic sales is at around RMB37,200-37,300/t for the same grade materials, down from RMB37,500-38,000/t two weeks ago.
The source said, "The market is very quiet this week and we received fewer inquiries this week than last week." She believes that the market may decrease further slightly in the near future as according to her, buyers find the market is decreasing and may not come back to the market within two weeks. Where the market will go in the future depends on buyers demand for the trioxide material.
A Hunan-based smelter with a monthly production capacity of around 300 tons reported around 50 tons of antimony trioxide early this week concluded at RMB36,500-37,000/t.
The source puts the mainstream price of all grade antimony triode at RMB36,500-37,500/t at present. She confirmed that the market is decreasing but they find that it is difficult to get antimony ingot again. Therefore, the source believes that the market may increase slightly due to the above mentioned reason.

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[+/-] : Russian antimony ingot price runs at high levels

3 Sep 08 - Participants expressed even though the demand is low, the price of antimony 99.65%min remains stable at the high level of RUB200-205/kg (USD8062-8263/t),unchanged from last week.
Some local traders do not know what to do about the high price. They revealed some traders have quoted above RUB210/kg (USD8464/t), but most deals are concluded at RUB200-205/kg (USD8062-8263/t).
A smelter in Russia quotes RUB207/kg for antimony 99.65%min. He stated that there are few inquiries from consumers. Consumers are watching the market. Therefore, few deals are concluded at present.
"Few deals are concluded due to the low demand. We may lower our quotations in order to sell the metal in bulk," he said. In addition, China is a large producing country of antimony and has a say in the pricing of antimony products. Some traders and consumers in Russia imported antimony from China. Therefore, the current high quotation of Chinese antimony ingot is one of the most important reasons of the highly stable price in Russia. The smelter's monthly production volume is around 60 tons.
A trader in Russia said the mainstream price of antimony 99.65%min remains stable at RUB200/kg (USD8062/t), unchanged from last week. He quotes RUB205/kg (USD8263/t) this week, down by RUB2/kg (USD80/t) compared with that of last week. However, he has not concluded any deals so far. In view of the current condition, he believes the price of antimony may go down slightly in a short time.

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