Chinese bismuth oxide prices go up following the metal price rise
2014-08-21 08:46:51 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 21 Aug 14 - The bismuth oxide market is still experiencing weak demand, but the consistently increasing metal prices have continued to push up the prices. The price rise pace for bismuth oxide lags behind that of the bismuth ingot due to the thin trading. The mainstream prices for bismuth ingot moved up to RMB155,500-157,000/t (USD14.49-11.60/lb) early this week and the prices for bismuth oxide also increased further to RMB155,000-157,000/t (USD11.46-11.60/lb). Currently, the prices for bismuth ingot are around RMB156,000-157,500/t (USD11.53-11.64/lb), while the prices for bismuth oxide are temporarily stable as a reaction to the few trading activities. However, sources expect that the prices for bismuth oxide will move up further if the metal prices continue to increase sharply.
A major bismuth materials supplier in China reported that they are mainly working on long-term orders for bismuth oxide and the spot market sees few inquiries. Their prices for bismuth ingot and bismuth oxide increased by RMB1,000/t (USD0.07/lb) to RMB156,000-15,7000/t (USD11.53-11.60/lb) and RMB156,000-157,000/t (USD11.53-11.60/lb) respectively early this week. The mainstream prices for bismuth ingot on the spot market are around RMB157,500/t (USD11.64/lb) now and they do not intend to sell materials at below RMB160,000/t (USD11.83/lb). However, the demand for bismuth oxide is weak and their offers keep stable at RMB156,000-157,000/t (USD11.53-11.60/lb). On the export market, the source claimed that their offers for bismuth ingot increased from USD11.6/lb CIF Europe early this week to USD11.8/lb CIF Europe now and the offers for bismuth oxide kept stable at USD11.6/lb CIF Europe recently.
“It is mainly the continuous stockpiling in some exchanges in China that pushed bismuth ingot prices to increase fast, while the real demand was not strong. The downstream bismuth oxide market kept inactive. The offers for bismuth oxide increased following the bismuth ingot price rise, but the market saw few deals,” said the source.
A bismuth oxide producer in China, with an output of around 70tpm, claimed that they received few inquiries for bismuth oxide on the spot market recently and only delivered materials on some long-term orders. The prices for bismuth oxide went up following the appreciation of bismuth ingot, but the rising pace was not too fast due to the weak demand. Their purchasing price for bismuth ingot increased by RMB1,000/t (USD0.07/lb) further to RMB155,000/t (USD11.46/lb) early this week. They are working on the orders for bismuth oxide signed at RMB153,000/t (USD11.31/lb) now and no deals are concluded at the offer of RMB155,000/t (USD11.46/lb).
They mainly sell bismuth oxide to electronics industry and the demand is low now. The producer noted that the stockpiling for bismuth ingot will continue to force the prices up in the near future, which in turn will affect the bismuth oxide prices, but as the real demand for bismuth oxide shows no signal of picking up in a short term, they do not intend to hold large stocks in hand.
A major bismuth materials supplier in China reported that they are mainly working on long-term orders for bismuth oxide and the spot market sees few inquiries. Their prices for bismuth ingot and bismuth oxide increased by RMB1,000/t (USD0.07/lb) to RMB156,000-15,7000/t (USD11.53-11.60/lb) and RMB156,000-157,000/t (USD11.53-11.60/lb) respectively early this week. The mainstream prices for bismuth ingot on the spot market are around RMB157,500/t (USD11.64/lb) now and they do not intend to sell materials at below RMB160,000/t (USD11.83/lb). However, the demand for bismuth oxide is weak and their offers keep stable at RMB156,000-157,000/t (USD11.53-11.60/lb). On the export market, the source claimed that their offers for bismuth ingot increased from USD11.6/lb CIF Europe early this week to USD11.8/lb CIF Europe now and the offers for bismuth oxide kept stable at USD11.6/lb CIF Europe recently.
“It is mainly the continuous stockpiling in some exchanges in China that pushed bismuth ingot prices to increase fast, while the real demand was not strong. The downstream bismuth oxide market kept inactive. The offers for bismuth oxide increased following the bismuth ingot price rise, but the market saw few deals,” said the source.
A bismuth oxide producer in China, with an output of around 70tpm, claimed that they received few inquiries for bismuth oxide on the spot market recently and only delivered materials on some long-term orders. The prices for bismuth oxide went up following the appreciation of bismuth ingot, but the rising pace was not too fast due to the weak demand. Their purchasing price for bismuth ingot increased by RMB1,000/t (USD0.07/lb) further to RMB155,000/t (USD11.46/lb) early this week. They are working on the orders for bismuth oxide signed at RMB153,000/t (USD11.31/lb) now and no deals are concluded at the offer of RMB155,000/t (USD11.46/lb).
They mainly sell bismuth oxide to electronics industry and the demand is low now. The producer noted that the stockpiling for bismuth ingot will continue to force the prices up in the near future, which in turn will affect the bismuth oxide prices, but as the real demand for bismuth oxide shows no signal of picking up in a short term, they do not intend to hold large stocks in hand.
Bismuth Oxide 99.9%min EXW China
Unit:RMB/mt
China bismuth ingot producers' sales to production ratio statistics by province by month
Unit: %
