Nihon Seiko to Hike Antimony Trioxide by 350 yen/kg

Nihon Seiko announced on Monday the firm increases the selling price of antimony trioxide by 350 yen per kilogram effective on April 4 shipment. The firm tries to cover higher antimony metal cost after the 180 yen of the trioxide price hike in December 2010. With the additional price hike, the trioxide price doubles in a year.

International price of antimony metal reached US$ 7,000 per tonne a year ago, which was higher than record before Lehman shock. The price hit US$ 9,500 at end of April 2010. Nihon Seiko increased the trioxide price by 250 yen per kg effective on May 1 shipment. The antimony metal price reached US$ 12,000 per tonne in December 2010. Nihon Seiko increased the trioxide price by additional 180 yen per kg in the month. The firm decided additional 350 yen of hike when the antimony metal price hit US$ 17,000 per tonne.

Production control by China, which represents 90% of the world production, lifted the international antimony price. City authority of Lengshuijiang, Hunan ordered local antimony smelters to stop the operation since April 2010 for consolidation of small smelters. Some of the smelters resumed the operation but others still stop the operation.

Chinese government tries to keep the domestic resources by controlling mining operations. Under the control, antimony ore supply is limited. Some of Chinese smelters import ore to keep the smelting. Antimony demand increases in China and world. The tight supply increases the international price.