American antimony trioxide price rises

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 21 May 08 – In the last few weeks, antimony price continued increasing in Chinese domestic and export markets, and American participants reported to Asian Metal that the current price of antimony trioxide is at about USD5,600-5,700/t CIF Baltimore and USD2.70-2.80/lb d.d.p.
A U.S. trader disclosed to Asian Metal that he is buying Twinkling Star material from China at around USD5,700/t CIF Baltimore and delivered to customers in the range of USD2.75-2.80/lb d.d.p. at the present time.0 Compared to the price of two weeks ago at USD2.60-2.70/lb d.d.p., antimony trioxide was getting more expensive in the last two weeks.
According to him, the demand from U.S. consumers is not strong as many of them are scared of the high prices.L “They are only buying hand-to-mouth at the moment, and they are only buying after they check with several suppliers and find the lowest price,” said the source.
Another trader confirmed the price of USD2.70-2.80/lb d.d.p. in American market.V “Customers are not happy when I offered this price to them,” the trader remarked, and added: “But they do not have many choices.”
He learned from the Chinese suppliers that the supply of antimony concentrate is in shortage since April and price is likely to hold high until the Olympic Games.9 “Chinese government is making a big fuss of the Olympic Games, and it is affecting not only antimony but other metals too,” submitted the source.