Chinese antimony ingots,antimony trioxide price up facing the holiday in China

Antimony trioxide price goes upwards supported by higher price of antimony ingot, sources reported to Asian Metal. Some producers and traders raise offers of antimony trioxide 99.5%min to RMB36,500-37,000/t (USD5,344-5,417/t) ex works and USD5,300-5,400/t FOB respectively for domestic sales and exports.
A Hunan-based producer raise offer of antimony trioxide 99.5%min to RMB36,800/t (5,388/t) ex works this week from previous RMB36,500/t (USD5,344/t) ex works due to higher production cost caused by the price increase of antimony ingot. According to the source, the price of antimony ingot has seen another increase in recent one week. "The most recent offer we got from a local antimony ingot smelter is RMB38,000/t (USD5,564/t) ex works VAT excluded, nearly RMB1,500/t (USD220/t) higher than what we received ten days ago," said the source, adding that some antimony ingot smelters claimed that the lowest price they would like to accept is RMB37,500/t (USD5,490/t) ex works VAT excluded.
The source reported that antimony trioxide market is still slow. Many producers only sell the material to regular buyers and seldom do they receive orders from new orders. "End users have been resisting high price for antimony trioxide, but our production cost has been rising on higher antimony ingot price. As a result, we antimony trioxide producers are in dilema," said the source.
To avoid risks, the source only start to produce antimony trioxide when receiving orders. The smelter has produced about 100t of antimony trioxide so far in September, less than half of the production capacity.
A Hong Kong-based trader received an offer of USD5,300/t FOB Chinese main ports from a domestic supplier, up from USD5,200/t FOB China in the middle of September. "Suppliers told us that their production cost rises because antimony ingot price goes up further, and thus they lift the price of antimony trioxdie accordingly," said the source.
The source received a few offers from customers from South Asia and U.S., in past one week with a total quantity amounting to 150t, but most buyers are unwilling to accept the price increase. The source revealed that his lastEpurchase of two containers of antimony trioxide from Chinese suppliers3was concluded at USD5,050/t FOB China in lateJAugust.