[+/-] : Manganese flake market summary Jul 28-Aug 1

4 Aug 08 - Manganese market falls down in the week after a temporarily rebound to over RMB21,000/t (USD3,070/t) ex works. Sources reported to Asian Metal that more buyers went away from the market when the price went up and demand from downstream stainless steel mills remains dull for the moment. Sources are not so optimistic now.
The price fell down from the highest level of around RMB21,200/t (USD3,099/t) ex works to almost RMB20,000/t (USD2,924/t) ex works. Few buyers are purchasing at the moment while many foreign participants are still on vacation and there is also large stocks there. Some participants lowered their prices to around RMB20,300/t (USD2,968/t) ex works late in the week but others are reluctant to sell at such low prices.
The power supply in some areas remains tight and the manganese production is below capacity. And many small-sized smelters have already been out of production for long. But compared to the low demand, the supply remains sufficient. However, some smelters reported that the supply of raw materials is also tightening which hampers the normal production. As a result, some smelters with low stockpiles at hand insist on higher prices of around RMB20,500/t (USD2,997/t) ex works though few deals are concluded. Suppliers believe that this is the worst time for the market and they hope more buyers would be back to the market in late August or early September and the price should be around RMB21,000/t (USD3,070/t) ex works.
Export market also falls down with few buyers eager to purchase now. The tax adjustment comes out on July 31st but has little influence on the manganese exportation. Some participants are afraid the price might go lower in the coming weeks. Some briquette suppliers lowered their offers to around USD3,250/t FOB again from USD3,400-3,500/t FOB but some others are still very cautious as they usually attach the items to the long-term contracts and if the government changes the export duty, the price should be negotiated one more time. Manganese flakes price also decreased to USD3,950-4,000/t FOB accordingly.
However, the price in warehouse Rotterdam is a bit higher at around USD4,100-4,200/t for the moment but few consumers are purchasing. Sources are not quite confident about the market in August and the price might go down again in the coming weeks.

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[+/-] : Some magnesium producers reduce output on sluggish market

More magnesium smelters especially in South Shanxi reduce output or even halt production due to the continuously sluggish situation, market sources reported to Asian Metal today.
"We reduced production by 2/3 in the middle of July," said a producer in Jiang county, Shanxi Province whose capacity of magnesium ingot expanded from 10,000tpy early this year from previous 3,000tpy.
"As demand has kept weakening, and prices have also been in decline, we have to reduce our output," said the source. With some materials in stock, the smelter refuses to sell any materials at prices below RMB26,000/t (USD3,807/t) ex works which is said to be its production cost. However, the source has no confidence in seeing a better market in August in view of the weak demand.
Meanwhile, the source revealed that some smelters nearby have already shut down due to either environmental problems or the bearish market.
Another smelter in Shanxi's Wenxi county, with a capacity of 600tpm, halted production in early July. "In the light of current prices of raw materials, the production cost of magnesium ingot should be at least RMB26,000/t (USD3,807/t) ex works in South Shanxi," said the source. "However, few smelters can obtain such a price for now." Therefore, the source has no plan to restart in the short term.
The source learnt that the magnesium ingot market continues to worsen and more smelters have begun to sell at prices of RMB25,300-25,500/t (USD3,704-3,734/t) ex works. "We heard that some small smelters undersold materials at a price as low as RMB24,500/t (USD3,587/t) ex works when cash was urgently needed, but we could not confirm such a low price," said the source.
The source also holds a pessimistic attitude towards the future market, believing that the price will probably drop to RMB24,000/t (USD3,514/t) ex works or lower levels soon.

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[+/-] : Magnesium ingot export prices down further

1 Aug 08 – The magnesium export price goes down further due to lack of consumer demand. Suppliers worry that the price may continue to slip in August when most European buyers are absent for summer holidays.
A Shanxi-based smelter has not concluded any export deals since early July and reported that only two or three tentative inquiries have been received. "We don't bother to make offers as we're aware that foreign buyers have no intention of buying," said a sales executive from the smelter.
The source offered at USD4,500/t FOB Tianjin last week without any deals concluded and reported that most suppliers have decreased offers to USD4,300-4,400/t FOB this week. However, the source revealed that little activity is seen in the export market.
Meanwhile, the source reported that the domestic market also remains dull with prices sliding down slowly and steadily. It is hard for them to sell magnesium ingot at RMB25,800/t ex works for now. The smelter is running at less than half of its capacity of 10,000tpy at the moment.
A Beijing-based trader confirmed the sluggish market for export and was surprised to receive a counter bid as low as USD3,800/t FOB China made by a Korean buyer. "Such a bid is far lower than USD4,300/t FOB China, which is the lowest price we can accept now," said the source.
The source reported that demand from Europe, Japan, Koran and India is very weak. Many dealers have ceased buying as their customers do not place orders with them.
A major Ningxia-based producer echoed that few foreign buyers are in the market. The source has reduced offers from USD4,400/t FOB early this week to current USD4,300/t FOB, but buyers still show no interest.

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[+/-] : Antimony market remains slack despite higher price

28 Jul 08 - Little activity is seen in antimony ingot market in China, though some producers raised offers slightly in mid-July. Market sources reported that demand is still not strong, which affects their ability to lift offers further.
A major Hunan-based producer, with a capacity of around 300tpm, sold a batch of antimony ingot at RMB40,300/t (USD5,900/t) ex works last week, RMB300-400/t (USD44-59/t) higher than the previous deal in mid-July. However, the source reported that demand keeps inactive, and few deals have been concluded during the past two weeks.
The source revealed that a considerable quantity of antimony ingot was smuggled via Guangxi to Vietnam and then to the international market. "With prices in international market hard to move up, it is impossible for the Chinese domestic market to improve greatly," said the source.
Meanwhile, the source revealed that the supply of antimony concentrate will keep tight during the Olympics owing to the regulations on explosives. The source takes it as one of the main reasons that the antimony ingot price will keep stable under the slack market situation.
A Guangdong-based trader revealed that the antimony products market is generally flat despite slightly higher prices of antimony ingot. "Our supplier in Hunan raised their offers of antimony trioxide in the name of higher prices of antimony ingot," said the source. "However, we have not seen any improvement in the market for both antimony ingot and trioxide."
The source learnt that some smelters put their offers at RMB37,800-38,000/t (USD5,534-5,564/t) VAT excluded for antimony ingot used for the production of antimony trioxide, RMB200-300/t (USD29-44/t) higher than those a week ago, but the source does not think the price of the metal will rise further given the fact that the antimony trioxide market remains dull. "It's hard to sell at prices higher than RMB36,000/t (USD5,271/t) ex works for antimony trioxide 99.5%min without famous brand," the source added.


PS:We can supply any quantity and any kind of Antimony products and fire retardant from stock.would you please inform us how many you need and your target price, then we will confirm ASAP. We are sincerely hope to do business with you and establish long term business relationship with your respectable company.

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

Sam Xu
MSN: xubiao_1996@hotmail.com
GMAIL: samjiefu@gmail.com
SKPYE:jiefu1996


Fire retardant masterbatch

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[+/-] : U.S. antimony trioxide market quiet

25 Jul 08 – As American participants are in the middle of summer holiday, U.S. antimony trioxide market keeps quiet and price remains stable.
A U.S. consumer told Asian Metal that his last purchase of the material was in the beginning of July, and he bought some 99.5%min antimony trioxide at around USD2.70/lb d.d.p. According to him, Twinkling Start and other famous brands materials were offered at around USD2.80/lb d.d.p.

He holds that antimony trioxide market is quiet at the moment because of summer holiday that many people are taking days off and manufactures using summer to do equipment maintenance.“This is only seasonal, and more activities will be in the beginning of September.” He believes the Chinese Olympic Games will help holding price stable from China.
A U.S. trader agreed that the market is not with any activity now and many consumers already booked material for their summer use. “They will come back after the Labor Day holiday,” said the source. He is offering 99.5%min antimony trioxide in the range of USD2.70-2.80/lb d.d.p. for different package and specifications.
He thinks the Olympic Games in China this year will support antimony price to keep at high level because the supply will keep tight. “I learned that the antimony concentrate supply is tight everywhere in the world,” said the trader, and believes more productions will be shut down in August, during the Olympic Games.


PS:We can supply any quantity and any kind of Antimony products and fire retardant from stock.would you please inform us how many you need and your target price, then we will confirm ASAP. We are sincerely hope to do business with you and establish long term business relationship with your respectable company.

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

Sam Xu
MSN: xubiao_1996@hotmail.com
GMAIL: samjiefu@gmail.com
SKPYE:jiefu1996


Fire retardant masterbatch

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[+/-] : European antimony trioxide market continues softening

24 Jul 08 – Due to the summer slow season, European antimony trioxide market kept weakening.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com YCG4
A European trader was surprised to find the price of antimony trioxide dropped by USD300/t after he comes back from a three-week holiday. “Before I left, the price of 99.5%min antimony trioxide was USD5,700-5,800/t in warehouse Rotterdam, and now it is slightly below USD5,500/t,” said the source and disclosed that he lost a business of two containers earlier in the weak because he was not aware the dropping price.
The source holds that antimony trioxide market would keep quiet in July and August because of the summer holidays. However, due to the fact that Chinese had reduced production for Olympic Games this year, he expect price to stabilize in the range of USD5,300-5,500/t in warehouse Rotterdam.
Another trader confirmed the slightly weakened price of 99.5%min antimony trioxide at around USD5,400-5,450/t in warehouse Rotterdam, and USD50-100/t more expensive for Twinkling Star brand material. “Price is slowly dropping by USD50/t every one or two weeks in the last six weeks,” the source said and holds that price will continue to go down by another USD100-200/t before the summer ends.
He holds that the Chinese suppliers will try to keep price stable by stop more smelters in the near future. “They always do when the price drops, and the reason they gave in the past was flood or environmental control. This year, they halt production because dynamite control for Olympic Games.” He believes the antimony trioxide price will not fall below USD5,000/t FOB China this summer.


PS:We can supply any quantity and any kind of Antimony products and fire retardant from stock.would you please inform us how many you need and your target price, then we will confirm ASAP. We are sincerely hope to do business with you and establish long term business relationship with your respectable company.

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

Sam Xu
MSN: xubiao_1996@hotmail.com
GMAIL: samjiefu@gmail.com
SKPYE:jiefu1996


Fire retardant masterbatch

...
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[+/-] : Some antimony participants increased offers in China

17 Jul 08 – The supply of antimony ingot has become tight in domestic market recently, because as the Olympic Games is drawing near, the government release less explosives which reduced output of both raw materials and antimony ingot.
A Guangxi-based smelter with a monthly production capacity of around 400 tons revealed that the price of antimony ingot 99.65%min increased by RMB500/t from RMB39,000/t (USD5,727/t) last week to RMB39,500/t (USD5,800/t) this week. "The antimony ingot supply becomes tight as it is more difficult to get raw materials and there are relatively more inquiries coming. Therefore, we increased our offers."
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com W859
The source revealed that many small and non-state-owned smelters have suspended production or reduced output caused by the shortage of raw materials. The supply of antimony ingot becomes tight and the price may increase in domestic market before the end of Olympic Games.
A Guangxi-based antimony trioxide exporter who also deals with domestic trading confirmed that they increased their offers for antimony trioxide slightly in domestic market, because they find the antimony ingot difficult to get at present. "We need to wait longer time to get the antimony ingot these days. It is all caused by the government's control on explosive, especially when the Olympic Game is drawing near, fewer explosives are released," said the source, believing, "If the supply becomes tighter, the market may be picking up. However, the export price may stay stable during the summer holiday because the demand is low in the period."
A Lengshuijiang-based smelter stated that there are over 50% of non-state-owned smelters have been shut down in the area. Most of the smelters who are still in operation do not want to release the metal; if they do, the price of antimony ingot 99.65%min should be not lower than RMB37,800-38,000/t (USD5,551-5,580/t) VAT excluded. The source puts the mainstream price of antimony ingot 99.65%min was RMB37,500-37,800/t (USD5,507-5,551/t) VAT excluded in the first two weeks of July.

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[+/-] : Antimony In Hunan

In China the struggle of the central authority on closing small-scale mines and manufactures connected to production and reception of antimony proceeds - up to such 60 enterprises in a province Hunan are planned to be closed, for it will affect a problem with a concentrate and metal antimony on the global market. In the middle of June the Chinese Ministry of ground and natural resources began closing (and frequently having undermined) factories around of city Lenshujang at the centre of a province Hunan. According to the local dealers this destruction of production and manufacture will result to disappearance of approximately 30% of capacities in a province, that is equivalent of 7000 -10000 tons of contained metal per one year. "It can become a second Nundan!"- the dealers exclaim dramatically, meaning resolute destruction of points of production antimony concentrate (frequently illegal) in the next province Guangxi after large accident in 2001. After closing these objects, the province Hunan remains by the basic supplier of a concentrate (up to 70 % from the Chinese manufacture), thus large manufactures, such as Hsikwangshan Mining Administration, are not mentioned by restrictive measures.

While that the exporters are sure, that the prices gradually will go upwards in process of further increasing of a situation with a cash material in the market - however it is spoken within several years. Many dealers habitually "hold" the goods in account on increase of the prices, expecting that it will take place roughly at the end of August.

Mines and manufactures which became objects of actions of the central authorities, are small, as a rule, - 100-200 tons of metal per month, or metal in a concentrate. In opinion of the various people, there will be closed or destroyed 48 or 60 enterprises, or a half in general.

The representatives of the above-mentioned enterprise Hsikwangshan Mining Administration, which makes a brand-material Twinkling Star, have informed, that their manufactures will not be broken, and in 2003 it will make of 25 000 tons. The factory is compelled to use significant volumes of an imported concentrate to compensate shortage of raw material on a home market.

Except for obvious desire of the Chinese authorities constant incidents and failures in a mountain industry of China, the possible reason of restrictive measures is the attempt of attraction of the foreign investments for a conclusion of production of antimony to an acceptable level appropriate to the modern requirements of profitability, safety and ecology. According to the message on an official web - site of the central newspaper People's Daily, one company from Great Britain was compelled to refuse the plans of the investments in one of the local projects owing to absence " of guarantees of the elementary order in a mineral industry both prevalence partisan and illegal approach to process of development of minerals" in the province. Frequently places of production simply become unfit for use as a result of actions at a handicraft level with use of the completely primitive equipment, the official representative of an industry has declared.

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[+/-] : Antimony

Antimony is an element with an interesting history and properties. For a long time people have been using that wide enough. The element is required at both: technical field and culture development.

According to historians the first production of antimony was found at Ancient East 5 thousand years ago.

History of Antimony

Besides gold, mercury, copper and other six elements, antimony is considered like a prehistoric element. Unfortunately the name of antimony discoverer is unknown. But is well known vessels were made of antimony in Babylon 3000 years B.C. Latin name of the element «stibium» occurs at works of Pliniy Sr. It descends from Greek «στιβι». Originally it denoted not an antimony metal but prolate mineral of antimony glance.

In ancient Europe people knew only antimony glance and start producing antimony regulus which was considered as semimetal. According to the Middle Ages prominent scientist at metal manufacturing Agricola: "When the certain portion of antimony is alloyed with the lead it results in the type alloy. It's used by book printers." Thus the element №51 is applied in printing for ages.

For the first time methods of antimony refining and antimony properties, antimony compounds and alloys were described at a famous book «Triumphal car of Antimony» in 1604. The author referred needle antimony to as "Antimony". It was descended from the Greek "ανεμον" – flower (as needle antimony crystals look like a composite flower).

The name "ANTIMONY" defined only this mineral very long time in Russia and overseas. Antimony metal was defined as regulus antimony (regulus antimoni). In 1789 Louvuosier included antimony at the list of elementary substances and called it "antimonie". Now this name remains in French language as the name of the element № 51. English and German names of this element are also similar - Antimony, Antimon.

But there is another version. According to that version the Superior of the abbey in Schtalgausen drew his attention to a very good state of health of the pigs, which licked "dark substance with metallic lustre" and decided to mix that into the monks meal. Forty monks died in the throes.

Since that the substance got the name "antimonium", i.e. substance "anti" "monks" (in full see "Life stone" by Y. Gashek).

Russian name of the element "sur'ma" descends from Turkish "s'urme", translated as "rubbing" or "darkening" of brows. Till 19th century the expression "eyebrows darkening" existed, though it was made with antimony compounds not always. The only antimony compound was used as eyebrow-dye – black modification of trisulfide antimony. So that first it was denoted by the word, which became the Russian name of element № 51.

What is it for?

Antimony metal is used very seldom because of its shortness. But metallurgists often add antimony into alloys as it strengthens solidity of other metals (tin, lead) and doesn't oxidize in usual environment. The number of alloys containing antimony is near to 200. The most famous antimony alloys are antimony lead, type metal, bearing metal.

Bearing metals are alloys with tin, lead and copper, sometimes with zinc and bismuth.

This alloys are comparatively fustible and used in bearing brasses production by casting. The most common-used alloys of this group are babbits containing 4-15 % of antimony.

Babbits are used in machine-tool construction, railway transport, motor transport. Bearing metals have considerable strength, fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance.

Antimony is the one of a number of metals that dilate when consolidating. Because of that type metal (alloy containing lead (82%), tin (3%) and antimony (15%) casting very well in moulds to produce prints; prints made of this alloy let to reach clear imprints.

Antimony increases strength and percussion stability.

Lead alloyed with antimony (5 – 15%) is called antimony lead. 1% addition of antimony increases lead strength substantially. Antimony lead is used in chemical engineering, corrosive liquid pipes production, electric, telegraph, telephone cables sheathing production, electrodes and lead-acid battery grids production. Lead-acid secondary batteries are the largest metallurgical market for the element №54. Also antimony is used in lead alloy shot and ammunition.

Antimony compounds are also applied widely in engineering. Antimony trisulphide is used in matches and fireworks production. Most of antimony materials are made of antimony trisulphide. Antimony pentasulphide is used in vulcanization of rubber. Red medical rubber containing antimony pentasulphide is very flexible. Heat resistant antimony trioxide is used in flame retardant paints, construction materials, textiles, conveyor belts, enamels.

High-purity antimony metal is used in the production of intermetallic compound semiconductor materials such as indium antimonide, aluminium antimonide and gallium antimonide. Antimony is used as a doping agent for one of the most important semiconductors – germanium.

Hydrated potassium antimonyl tartar, known as tartar emetic, is used in medicines for the treatment of stomach ailments. The chemical, together with the less toxic organic antimonides – ethylstibamine, sodium antimonyl gluconate (Pentostam) and N-methylglucamine antimonate (Glucantime) – have been used to treat leishmaniasis, a disease transmitted by sandflies.

A lot of antimony compounds are used as pigments in pants production.

So antimony is one of the oldest metal known on the one hand and a very required one n the other.

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[+/-] : Dollar rebounds against euro on ECB remarks

The dollar rose against the euro and other major currencies on Thursday as the European Central Bank (ECB) signaled it may not increase interest rates again.

As widely expected, the ECB raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point to 4.25 percent in an effort to halt rising inflation.

The ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet said the rate hike would help bring inflation back below 2 percent. He said he has "no bias" on further moves.

Traders reduced bets the ECB will increase rates further this year. Trichet's comments helped counter a government report showing U.S. employers eliminated jobs in June for a sixth consecutive month.

The U.S. Labor Department says employers cut 62,000 jobs in June. Economists predicted the number of jobs would fall but investors appear somewhat relieved that the losses weren't steeper.

The euro bought 1.5699 dollars in late New York trading compared with 1.5888 dollars it bought late Wednesday. The British pound fell to 1.9829 dollars from 1.9936 dollars.

The dollar rose to 1.0267 Swiss francs from 1.0142 Swiss francs, and rose to 106.77 Japanese yen from 105.99 Japanese yen. It rose to 1.0186 Canadian dollars from 1.0122 Canadian dollars. ...
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