Chinese zircon sand prices soften
2023-04-13 08:09:33 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 13 Apr 23 - Dragged by the sluggish demand, the current mainstream prices of zircon sand 65%min in China edged down by RMB100/t (USD14/t) to RMB15,200-15,500/t (USD2,206-2,249/t) EXW D/P from late last week. Given the sluggish demand, insiders foresee the mainstream prices of zircon sand 65%min in China would slip further next week.
A producer in Hainan revealed that his current offer of zircon sand 65%min with whiteness 90 stands at RMB15,500/t (USD2,249/t) EXW D/P, and he sold 100t at RMB15,400/t (USD2,235/t) on Wednesday after the back-and-forth negotiation, while he insisted on RMB15,500/t (USD2,249/t) last Friday. "The demand from zirconium silicate plants remains sluggish, and I didn't close any deals last week but usually at least 300t a week," revealed the producer on Wednesday. He added that his production cost stays higher than RMB14,500/t (USD2,104/t) EXW D/P, and he predicts the mainstream prices of zircon sand 65%min in China would edge down further next week dragged by the sluggish demand but would not turn lower than RMB15,000/t (USD2,177/t) strengthened by the high production cost.
With an annual production capacity of 24,000t, the producer expects to output around 1,500t in April, unchanged from last month, holding about 2,000t in stock.
A trader in Guangdong disclosed that he bought 200t of zircon sand 65%min at RMB15,200/t (USD2,206/t) EXW D/P on Tuesday from a regular supplier who insisted on RMB15,300/t (USD2,220/t) last Friday. "The demand of zircon sand 65%min from my clients of zirconium silicate plants shrank by around half in March MoM as clients prefer to buy zircon sand 60-63%min to lower production cost, and my major supplier stepped back slightly this week to secure orders," revealed the trader on Wednesday. He foresees the mainstream prices of zircon sand 65%min in China would slip further next week dragged by the sluggish demand but most suppliers would defend RMB15,000/t (USD2,177/t) upon their high production cost.
The trader, based on a regular trading volume of 1,000t, expects to sell around 500t in April, down by around 300t from last month, holding no stocks.
A producer in Hainan revealed that his current offer of zircon sand 65%min with whiteness 90 stands at RMB15,500/t (USD2,249/t) EXW D/P, and he sold 100t at RMB15,400/t (USD2,235/t) on Wednesday after the back-and-forth negotiation, while he insisted on RMB15,500/t (USD2,249/t) last Friday. "The demand from zirconium silicate plants remains sluggish, and I didn't close any deals last week but usually at least 300t a week," revealed the producer on Wednesday. He added that his production cost stays higher than RMB14,500/t (USD2,104/t) EXW D/P, and he predicts the mainstream prices of zircon sand 65%min in China would edge down further next week dragged by the sluggish demand but would not turn lower than RMB15,000/t (USD2,177/t) strengthened by the high production cost.
With an annual production capacity of 24,000t, the producer expects to output around 1,500t in April, unchanged from last month, holding about 2,000t in stock.
A trader in Guangdong disclosed that he bought 200t of zircon sand 65%min at RMB15,200/t (USD2,206/t) EXW D/P on Tuesday from a regular supplier who insisted on RMB15,300/t (USD2,220/t) last Friday. "The demand of zircon sand 65%min from my clients of zirconium silicate plants shrank by around half in March MoM as clients prefer to buy zircon sand 60-63%min to lower production cost, and my major supplier stepped back slightly this week to secure orders," revealed the trader on Wednesday. He foresees the mainstream prices of zircon sand 65%min in China would slip further next week dragged by the sluggish demand but most suppliers would defend RMB15,000/t (USD2,177/t) upon their high production cost.
The trader, based on a regular trading volume of 1,000t, expects to sell around 500t in April, down by around 300t from last month, holding no stocks.
