European antimony market in stalemate

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 11 Jun 08 – In the last two weeks, antimony market kept quiet in Europe. Dealers reported to Asian Metal that the suppliers refuse to lower offers, and consumers are not willing to accept prices.
A European trader told Asian Metal that market is still quiet at the moment but most Chinese suppliers are not lowering their offers. According to him, the mainstream price of antimony is in the range USD6,300- 6,500/t CIF Rotterdam, and the range covers both 99.65%min standard and low bismuth grade two
antimony ingot.
The trader sold less than 10t 99.65%min standard grade two antimony ingot at USD7,000/t d.d.p. with payment terms, and holds that it is difficult to sell large volume material at the moment. Although demand is weak, the trader received few Chinese offers, and no supplier wants to lower the offer. "Therefore, we
might have stable price for antimony in the next few weeks," said the trader.
A European trader takes that the mainstream price of antimony ingot is in the range of USD 6,350-6,450/t CIF Rotterdam for 99.65%min grade two antimony ingot with bismuth content less than 100ppm. He sold one container in the above range, and he disclosed to Asian Metal that he bought the material at USD6,310/t CIF Rotterdam.
He too, expects antimony price to keep stable at the current level because concentrate is difficult to find. “In the past years, Chinese suppliers always claimed for flood in Hunan during summer, and they ask for higher prices, and I think there is no exception this year.”