Antimony market on Easter holidays

BEIJING(Asian Metal) 4 Apr 07 – European antimony spot prices showed no sign of decreasing besides demand dwindles beyond normal Easter holidays doldrums, “Market is still depressed and no resume is in sight,” confesed a pessimistic trader to Asian Metal, “I think buying would restart over the next couple of weeks, but it is hard to determine exactly how much this demand would rise.”
At close, Europe spot market quoted antimony 99.65%min at around USD5,400-5,500/t in warehouse Rotterdam and for antimony trioxide at around USD4,700-4,800/t in warehouse Rotterdam.
“Demand in these market shows no sign of changing,” analyzed a participant that stated a deal of 10t of antimony ingot closed at USD5,475/t CIF Europe, “There is no shortage of material and prices remain stable and with no sight of change or things getting better. I heard about some deals at USD5,500/t in warehouse Rotterdam but for very low purchases quantities. The current trend would last for weeks.”
"I could close a deal of 5t of antimony trioxide at USD4,700 CIF Europe. I expect to get some inquiries may be next week. Customers remain reluctant to order big cargos, " another market participant commented.
"I am sure that many producers in China are having problems to sell material and to cover costs, so I really hope that these prices would not remain at the current level for much longer," one major producer said.