European antimony trioxide market dips further

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 26 Jun 08 – When antimony metal price rose to USD6,400/t CIF Rotterdam for 99.65%min low bismuth grade two antimony ingot two months ago, antimony trioxide price rose to around USD5,700/t CIF Rotterdam, which was more expensive than 85% of the metal price.
In the last two weeks, antimony trioxide price corrected itself and fall to around USD5,500/t CIF Rotterdam, and market participants expects the price to fall a little more because summer holiday is close.
A European trader told Asian Metal that the price of antimony trioxide is decreasing. According to him, non brand named 99.5%min antimony trioxide is selling at USD5,500/t in warehouse Rotterdam, and USD5,450/t CIF Rotterdam for prompt shipment from China.
He had not concluded any deal in the passed ten days because the consumers are reluctant to buy when the price is dropping. Moreover, some consumers are already left for summer holiday. He takes that the price will continue to fall until the end of August, before people come back to office.
A trader disclosed to Asian Metal that he had not sold any antimony trioxide in June and price of 99.5%min is decreasing to below USD5,500/t CIF Rotterdam. The consumers asked for quotation and then kept silent as they are waiting for lower prices now.
Moreover, the summer holiday is right in the corner. The source believes demand will not pick up until the end of summer. However, the price is not going to fall in big range because he understands that the antimony concentrate is in short supply.