[Ferro-Alloys.com]Despite a fair amount of inquiries over the past couple of weeks, demand and sales for bismuth remained largely unreported. Consequently, the price for bismuth slid further this past week. Prices are currently $9.20-9.30 per lb, compared to $9.30-9.50 per lb the week prior. According to sources, demand has mostly dissipated as buyers seem covered for the remainder of 2013. “The market is relatively quiet,” said a seller. “There are a few inquiries here and there but, overall, buyers are just spot checking.” Many speculate that most transactions for the year have already been concluded, and only a few outlier pieces of business are likely to be reported over the next few weeks. “I would say that requirements have been met,” remarked a source. “No one is really willing to carry material on the books during the holidays.” Even though the bismuth stock level at the Fanya Metals Exchange has held at 3,430 mt for the past several weeks, many market participants expect the global market to be impacted by the Exchange, should inventory volumes increase in the near-term. Demand for bismuth within the Chinese market remained on a downtrend, however, as buyers remained mostly inactive. Export prices are at $8.60-8.80 per lb no change week-on-week.