Mixed market for indium

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 6 Apr 05 - As the indium market keeps slipping for main buyers are standing out of the market, the prices vary greatly in China market.

"We quote RMB9,000/kg for our 4N5 indium, but sold at a price of around RMB8,700/kg, for no buyer would like to place orders," an official of West China-based a small smelter told Asian Metal. The smelter still holds 400-500kg stock waiting for sale.

With 5tpy production capacity, the smelter runs 30-50/kg per month now for weakened demand. Last year, it produced 1.Asian Metal Copyright"Although the concluded deals are quite few, I think, if any, the price should be around USD920-930kg for 4Ns indium," said an official of a major indium smelter with over 20tpy production capacity.Asian Metal Copyright5t.

"For the poor demand and slipping market prices, we did not deal with indium recently, but everyday, we receive lots of offers with prices around RMB8,400-8,500/kg for 4Ns indium and RMB7,600-7,700/kg for crude indium," a South China-based trader said.

For the trader, the latest deal was concluded later this Mar at a price of USD950/kg for 100kg 99%min crude indium. According to the trader, in the middle of this Mar, the price was at RMB8,300/kg for crude indium and RMB9,200/kg for 4Ns indium.

The trader believes that Japanese would not come back to the market until the indium prices drop down to a level of around USD850/kg.

Whereas, a 10tpy indium smelter claimed that it can still secure a price of RMB8,200/kg for crude indium. "We just sold 50kg 98%min at a price of around RMB8,200/kg VAT included," said a senior sales manager of the smelter.Asian Metal CopyrightBEIJING Asian Metal 6 Apr 05 - As the indium market keeps slipping for main buyers are standing out of the market, the prices vary greatly in China market.Asian Metal Copyright The smelter stopped production of refined indium recently and mainly focuses on crude indium now with 200-300kg monthly output.

"I think some deals could be accomplished in a range of USD970-990/kg CNF at present for high quality indium with 4N5 a minimum and good package," an executive from a South China-based major trader revealed to Asian Metal.

The trader just completed a deal at around USD990/kg delivered in Japan for ITO grade 4N5 indium. In 2005, the trader plans to export nearly 40t indium, while in 2004, the trade exported more than 30t.

The trader predicted that the bottom price level for this round of decline would be at USD850/kg in the following weeks.

"Although the concluded deals are quite few, I think, if any, the price should be around USD920-930/kg for 4Ns indium," said an official of a major indium smelter with over 20tpy production capacity.