European antimony market seeing more supplies

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 22 May 08 – In the last few days, European antimony market participants reported to Asian Metal that there are more material available for prompt shipment from China, but prices are still holding high.
A European trader bought three containers of low bismuth grade two antimony ingot at USD6,350/t CIF Rotterdam for prompt shipment, and he sold some off-grade two antimony ingot to a European consumer at slightly below USD6,300/t CIF European port. According to the trader, 99.65%min low bismuth grade two
antimony ingot is being quoted at around USD6,500/t in warehouse Rotterdam, and there is not much material available.
The source revealed to Asian Metal that there is more material available from China now. "If I need to restock material, I can get 100-150t for end of May shipment," said the trader. “However, the price is not falling with the availability of antimony metal.”
Another trader reported to Asian Metal that the latest offers from Chinese suppliers are in the range of USD6,300-6,350/t CIF Rotterdam for 99.65%min grade two antimony ingot, and USD100/t more expensive for prompt release material in warehouse Rotterdam. According to him, inquiries were few in the last two weeks as prices were too high for the consumers to accept. He confirmed that there is enough material available for future delivery.
“The customers are waiting for lower prices in the near future because summer is close, and price is most likely to drop during the period,” said the trader, expecting price to lower to around USD6,000/t in the end of June or beginning of July. “I have exchanged opinions with other traders, and some of us think price
will climb again later this year to around USD6,500/t and USD7,000/t in the beginning of next year."