Monthly Zirconium Market Report Jan 2019
2019-02-12 17:36:44 【Print】
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1 Market Highlights
Mainstream prices for most zircon products declined in China in January 2019. In particular, Chinese high grade zircon sand 65%min producers were forced to lower their prices to recoup funds against the backdrop of soft demand from downstream ceramics plants and refractory plants. Meanwhile, many zirconium silicate producers started to halt production during January, resulting in sharply decreased supply in the market; however, some zirconium silicate producers still held large volumes of stocks and had to slightly lower their prices to boost sales. As for pigment grade fused zirconia, mainstream prices went down to RMB31,000-32,000/t (USD4,598-4,746/t) EXW as many ceramics plants suspended production. In addition, prices for zirconium sponge went up to some extent due to tight supply in the market, and thus zirconium sponge became one of several zircon products, of which prices went up during January 2019.
China's import prices for Australian zircon sand didn't change substantially in January 2019; CIF China prices for Australian zircon sand were USD1,600-1,650/t during this month, down by USD10/t from late December 2018. Affected by the appreciation of RMB, China's import costs for the material declined to some extent in late January and consumers were more inactive in refilling stocks, stimulating CIF China prices for Australian zircon sand 66%min to go up by USD5/t from early January to USD1,605-1,655/t. Meanwhile, prices for South African zircon sand 66%min stood at USD1,540-1,590/t CIF China on average, down by USD10/t MOM. In particular, prices for South Africa zircon sand made by Tronox were USD1,560-1,600/t in China's bonded warehouses: prices for Namakwa zircon sand 66%min were USD1,580-1,600/t while those for KZN zircon sand 66%min were USD1,560-1,580/t. In addition, prices for RBM's zircon sand 66%MIN (ZUG) were USD1,550-1,570/t, while those of zircon sand 65%min (ZSG) were USD1,460-1,490/t.
Mainstream prices for most zircon products declined in China in January 2019. In particular, Chinese high grade zircon sand 65%min producers were forced to lower their prices to recoup funds against the backdrop of soft demand from downstream ceramics plants and refractory plants. Meanwhile, many zirconium silicate producers started to halt production during January, resulting in sharply decreased supply in the market; however, some zirconium silicate producers still held large volumes of stocks and had to slightly lower their prices to boost sales. As for pigment grade fused zirconia, mainstream prices went down to RMB31,000-32,000/t (USD4,598-4,746/t) EXW as many ceramics plants suspended production. In addition, prices for zirconium sponge went up to some extent due to tight supply in the market, and thus zirconium sponge became one of several zircon products, of which prices went up during January 2019.
China's import prices for Australian zircon sand didn't change substantially in January 2019; CIF China prices for Australian zircon sand were USD1,600-1,650/t during this month, down by USD10/t from late December 2018. Affected by the appreciation of RMB, China's import costs for the material declined to some extent in late January and consumers were more inactive in refilling stocks, stimulating CIF China prices for Australian zircon sand 66%min to go up by USD5/t from early January to USD1,605-1,655/t. Meanwhile, prices for South African zircon sand 66%min stood at USD1,540-1,590/t CIF China on average, down by USD10/t MOM. In particular, prices for South Africa zircon sand made by Tronox were USD1,560-1,600/t in China's bonded warehouses: prices for Namakwa zircon sand 66%min were USD1,580-1,600/t while those for KZN zircon sand 66%min were USD1,560-1,580/t. In addition, prices for RBM's zircon sand 66%MIN (ZUG) were USD1,550-1,570/t, while those of zircon sand 65%min (ZSG) were USD1,460-1,490/t.
