Chinese metallurgical grade niobium oxide price on the increase
2016-02-24 09:11:06 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 24 Feb 16 - As demand from downstream industry picked up slightly after the Spring Festival, some suppliers preferred to raise their offers to test the market. Chinese domestic metallurgical grade niobium oxide market witnessed higher offers at RMB160-165/kg (USD24.5-25.2/kg), up by RMB2/kg (USD0.3/kg) from those of last week.
A consumer of metallurgical grade niobium oxide from South China whose consumption is 20tpm claimed that the mainstream prices for metallurgical grade niobium oxide increased slightly to RMB160-165/kg (USD24.5-25.2/kg), up by RMB2/kg (USD0.3/kg) from those of last week. "I made procurement before the holiday and the dealing price for five tons of metallurgical grade niobium oxide was RMB160/kg (USD24.5/kg)," said the source, noting that they consumed 20t of the material in January. They hold less than 10t of stocks in hand now.
Commenting on the future market, the source said that the prices will not decrease in the near future, as producers cannot accept lower prices due to firm raw materials’ prices and higher production cost.
A metallurgical grade niobium oxide trader with a trading volume of 12 tons per month noted that consumers come back to the market for making purchase after the holiday, so most suppliers raise their offers for metallurgical grade niobium oxide to RMB160-165/kg (USD24.5-25.2/kg) to test the market, up by RMB2/kg (USD0.3/kg) from those of last week. “The main reason is increasing demand from downstream ferroniobium and niobium metal market. If metallurgical grade niobium oxide prices continue to increase to RMB170/kg (USD25.8/kg) in the future, it will harm demand from steel mills for ferroniobium so that consumption volumes of niobium products will decrease,” said the source, who is worried about the future market.
According to the source, they sold around 10 tons of metallurgical grade niobium oxide in January and held no stocks in hand. Influenced by firm niobium concentrate prices and tight supply in the spot market, many niobium suppliers prefer to raise their offers slightly to test the market.
A consumer of metallurgical grade niobium oxide from South China whose consumption is 20tpm claimed that the mainstream prices for metallurgical grade niobium oxide increased slightly to RMB160-165/kg (USD24.5-25.2/kg), up by RMB2/kg (USD0.3/kg) from those of last week. "I made procurement before the holiday and the dealing price for five tons of metallurgical grade niobium oxide was RMB160/kg (USD24.5/kg)," said the source, noting that they consumed 20t of the material in January. They hold less than 10t of stocks in hand now.
Commenting on the future market, the source said that the prices will not decrease in the near future, as producers cannot accept lower prices due to firm raw materials’ prices and higher production cost.
A metallurgical grade niobium oxide trader with a trading volume of 12 tons per month noted that consumers come back to the market for making purchase after the holiday, so most suppliers raise their offers for metallurgical grade niobium oxide to RMB160-165/kg (USD24.5-25.2/kg) to test the market, up by RMB2/kg (USD0.3/kg) from those of last week. “The main reason is increasing demand from downstream ferroniobium and niobium metal market. If metallurgical grade niobium oxide prices continue to increase to RMB170/kg (USD25.8/kg) in the future, it will harm demand from steel mills for ferroniobium so that consumption volumes of niobium products will decrease,” said the source, who is worried about the future market.
According to the source, they sold around 10 tons of metallurgical grade niobium oxide in January and held no stocks in hand. Influenced by firm niobium concentrate prices and tight supply in the spot market, many niobium suppliers prefer to raise their offers slightly to test the market.
Niobium Pentoxide 99.99%min EXW China
Unit:RMB/kg
China niobium oxide producers' inventory to production ratio statistics by province by month
Unit: %
