Chinese zircon sand participants watch the market

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 25 Apr 07 – Due to low demand from end users, the zircon sand market is likely to slide, trading companies reported to Asian Metal.

“We have difficulties selling Indonesian zircon sand (with 66%min ZrO2, 0.10%max TiO2 and 0.08%max Fe2O3 contents) at RMB8,300/t VAT included (USD1,075/t), while the price was RMB8,500/t VAT included (USD1,101/t) last week,” said an official from a trading company, whose monthly trading volume is around 500t.Asian Metal CopyrightBEIJING Asian Metal 25 Apr 07 – Due to low demand from end users, the zircon sand market is likely to slide, trading companies reported to Asian Metal.Asian Metal Copyright

According to the source, end users do not place orders especially when the market is likely to decline. The price of Hainan zircon sand (with 65%min ZrO2, 0.Asian Metal Copyright08%max Fe2O3 contents at RMB8,300t VAT included USD1,075t, while the price was RMB8,500t VAT included USD1,101t last week,” said an official from a trading company, whose monthly trading volume is around 500t.Asian Metal Copyright15%max TiO2 and 0.10%max Fe2O3 contents) also decreases from RMB8,300-8,500/t VAT included (USD1,075-1,101/t) last week to RMB8,000-8,200/t VAT included (USD1,036-1,062/t) this week.Asian Metal CopyrightBEIJING Asian Metal 25 Apr 07 – Due to low demand from end users, the zircon sand market is likely to slide, trading companies reported to Asian Metal.Asian Metal Copyright

An official from a Hainan-based smelter confirmed that the price of Hainan zircon sand (with 65%min ZrO2, 0.15%max TiO2 and 0.10%max Fe2O3 contents) declines from RMB8,200/t VAT excluded (USD1,062/t) last week to RMB7,900/t VAT included (USD1,023/t) this week.Asian Metal Copyright10%max Fe2O3 contents also decreases from RMB8,300-8,500t VAT included USD1,075-1,101t last week to RMB8,000-8,200t VAT included USD1,036-1,062t this week.Asian Metal Copyright

Participants analyzed that demand from end users is not strong, while one big trading company holds large quantities of zircon sand stockpiles, so participants have fears that the market might go down further in the weeks to come.