U.S. antimony trioxide market

As U.S. Dollar has been weakening in the passed several months, American market participants are complaining that imports has become more expensive than before, and antimony trioxide price is up from USD2.4/lb ex-warehouse to currently USD2.5/lb, but as price is going up, antimony demand has not been affected.

A west coast trader told Asian Metal that price of antimony trioxide is increasing along with the antimony ingot price. For the Chinese 99.5%min antimony trioxide, offers have been raised from USD2.40-2.43/lb to currently around USD2.5/lb ex-warehouse. Twinkling Star antimony trioxide is USD0.03-0.05/lb more expensive.

According to him, the demands of antimony trioxide from his customers have not dropped because of higher prices and most of the material was bought for producing flame retardant. "European consumers may be more sensitive about prices, but American manufactures are more focused in keeping their normal production to catch up the downstream demand," remarked the trader.

Another trader also claimed that the demand is keeping stable in the U.S. market but there are fewer traders in the States who deal with antimony or antimony trioxide. He claimed that major consumers have changed the purchasing strategy as they are now buying from fewer suppliers.

"One of the major buyers used to source material from more than five suppliers including producers and traders, so they were able to buy at cheaper prices. However, they only buy from one or two suppliers now at higher prices, and the suppliers could deliver the raw material as contracted," the source revealed to Asian Metal.

He confirmed the price has gone up to USD2.5/lb ex-warehouse in the American market and he thinks price will remain at the current level for the coming months.