[Ferro-Alloys.com]The European antimony spot market slumped further this past week; nevertheless, many speculate that prices might have reached bottom. Prices are presently $9,450-9,750 per mt, ex-warehouse Rotterdam, compared to $9,550-9,750 per mt the week prior. According to sources, demand remains relatively thin as most buyers are reportedly covered for the remainder of 2013 and are likely to abstain from additional material before the new year. Truckload sales have been limited over the past month or so, as buyers have been supplementing volumes on more of a cyclical base in order to limit overbuying. The bulk of business has been seen around $9,550 per mt for partial truckloads, with a five mt spot sale reported at $9,720 per mt. “Prices are holding right now,” said a source, “but if suppliers offload material before the new year, there is still the possibility of additional decreases.”

 

As has noticeably been the case lately, the US antimony market continues to mirror the movement reported in European and Asian markets alike. Sources have noticed that December orders are mostly fulfilled as buyers don’t seem in need of material to close out the year. Prices for antimony ingot within the US market are presently $4.35-4.45 per lb, compared to $4.40-4.50 per lb the week before.

 

Procurement patterns remain mostly tied to small spot transactions as consumers are cautious to not carry oversupply during the year-end holidays. “I would say that buyers are a little more constrained right now,” said a source. “Not much is likely to change until sometime in January.” Further depreciation in the near-term remains expected, as noteworthy spot buys are unlikely during the remainder of December.

 

The Chinese antimony market seems to be on a sideways trend after weeks of depreciation and demand slowdown. The recent stabilization is reportedly due to a substantial cutback in production. A number of smelters in Hunan and Guangxi have been forced to halt production as a result of limited downstream demand and poor market conditions. Additionally, Minmetals is actively stockpiling spot material in order to build up inventories and, consequently, halt additional price depreciation. Meanwhile, environmental regulations remain strictly enforced due to high pollution levels in the Lengshuijiang area.

 

Presently, spot prices for antimony metal are 56,000-59,000 yuan ($9,240-9,735) per mt VAT included. According to sources, prices are likely to have bottomed out as production rates have diminished significantly. Export prices are $9,100-9,600 per mt for smuggled material, while some market participants speculate that prices could firm if demand picks up ahead of year-end holidays.

 

The Fanya Metals Exchange is planning to list antimony for trade, and the launch date is likely to be in early 2014, sources at the exchange said. In the first ten months of 2013, China exported 1,841 mt of antimony metal, down 76.4% from 7,798 mt in the same 2012 period. Exports were mainly to: Rotterdam, 380 mt (1,249 mt); Hong Kong, 200 mt (806 mt); Japan, 161 mt (1,088 mt); and Thailand, 80 mt (0). According to sources, falling western demand and the resurgence of smuggled material have caused export volumes to decrease substantially in 2013.