China Antimony Offer Surges to Japan Buyers

Chinese antimony export offer surges to Japanese buyers. Some of the offer is more than CIF US$ 14,000 per tonne in the week. Japanese market price could reach 1,400 yen pre kilogram while the price exceeded 1,300 yen in the week. The transaction is thin before Chinese New Year but the suppliers accelerated to seek higher price.

Reuters reported antimony price increased by US$ 400 to record US$ 12,800-13,300 per tonne for product with 99.65% purity last week. The international price increased when some watchers in Chinese industry expect the price could reach US$ 16,000 level.

Chinese offer to Japanese buyers was around US$ 12,800 per tonne in the beginning of the year. However, the suppliers raised the offer last week. A trader source in Japan was offered around US$ 14,500 in the week, which represents 1,400 yen per kg. Other Japanese buyer couldn’t get Chinese offer since last week. Japanese traders reduced the inventory since last year and the lower Chinese supply could impact on domestic supply balance.

Japanese industry source expects the surging price is nominal before Chinese industry stops the transactions during Chinese New Year. However, Japanese market price already reaches around 1,350 yen per kg level under the surging Chinese offer.