Antimony trioxide suppliers raise offers

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 14 May 08 – As the price of antimony ingot increases further, antimony trioxide suppliers raise their offers accordingly this week.
A Yunnan-based smelter with a monthly output of around 500 tons sold 100 tons of 99.8%min antimony trioxide at the price a little lower than RMB37,000/t (USD5,293/t) ex works. They quote RMB38,000/t (USD5,436/t) this week increased from RMB37,000/t (USD5,293/t) early last week.
The source said, “Our suppliers increased their offers for antimony ingot from RMB41,200/t (USD6,189/t) ex works to RMB41,700/t (USD6,263/t) ex works. Therefore, we need to increase our quotations for antimony trioxide accordingly in order to cover the increased production cost.”
A licensed Yunnan-based exporter concluded around 200 tons of 99.8%min grade antimony trioxide at USD5,200/t FOB Guangzhou at the end of April when they quoted USD5,300-5,400/t FOB Guangzhou.
They raised offers to USD5,350-5,450/t FOB Guangzhou two weeks ago and USD5,500-5,600/t FOB Guangzhou this week. However, until now they have not concluded any deals this month. “European buyers begin to accept the increasing prices and many suppliers do not want to release more material to the market,” explained the source.
According to the source, suppliers raised their quotations for antimony ingot too this week. They contributed this as one of the reasons they raised their quotations of antimony trioxide.