Monthly Zirconium Market Report Dec 2018
2019-01-15 17:58:50 【Print】
The following is a brief synopsis of the report. Your access is restricted as it is a subscription based service.
Please contact us for a subscription.
Please contact us for a subscription.
1 Market Highlights
Mainstream prices for Chinese high grade zircon sand 65%min went down by RMB200/t (USD29.62/t) in December 2018 compared with those in late November 2018. Although zircon concentrate prices were very high against the backdrop of stable prices of high grade zircon sand from major overseas producers, domestic high grade zircon sand producers tried to continuously lower their prices to boost sales and recoup funds as a result of soft demand in the market. But transactions for domestic high grade zircon sand were still generally limited during December 2018. As for zirconium silicate 64.5%min, transactions generally declined in the Chinese spot market after most ceramics plants halted production, stimulating the competition among some producers to be fiercer; however, mainstream prices for zirconium silicate 64.5%min merely went down slightly by RMB100/t (USD14.81/t) from late November 2018 to RMB13,500-14,000/t (USD1,999-2,073/t) EXW in December 2018 due to some support made by relatively high prices for raw material zircon sand. As for zirconium oxychloride, major suppliers maintained low outputs in early December 2018 influenced by the policy on coal-to-gas rectification, leading to decreased supply in the market and stimulating mainstream prices to increase slightly by RMB50/t (USD7.40/t) from late November 2018 to RMB16,150-16,650/t (USD2,391-2,465/t) in early December 2018; however, due to soft demand in the market and decreased consumption volumes of downstream consumers, prices for zirconium oxychloride then declined to RMB16,000-16,500/t (USD2,369-2,443/t) EXW in late December 2018. As for pigment grade fused zirconia 98.5%min, transactions were limited in the spot market as consumers, who restricted the outputs of their own products, lowered their purchase volumes. As a result, mainstream prices for zirconium oxychloride dropped continuously by RMB600/t (USD88.85/t) from late November 2018 to RMB31,600-32,600/t (USD4,679-4,827/t) EXW in late December 2018.
China's import prices for Australian zircon sand basically kept stable in December 2018. In particular, CIF China prices for Australian zircon sand 66%min were USD1610-1,660/t during this month with the lowest prices up by USD30/t. Chinese buyers still could refill stocks of Australian zircon sand 66%min at USD1,610-1,640/t CIF China. Meanwhile, prices for Australian zircon sand 66%min made by Tronox were USD1,625-1,650/t. As for Indonesian zircon sand, some Indonesian producers lowered their prices in order to recoup funds due to soft demand from ceramics producers in China in spite of high prices of other major overseas suppliers. In particular, prices for Indonesian Central Kalimantan zircon sand 66%min were USD1,480-1,510/t CIF China during December 2018, down by USD5/t MOM.
Mainstream prices for Chinese high grade zircon sand 65%min went down by RMB200/t (USD29.62/t) in December 2018 compared with those in late November 2018. Although zircon concentrate prices were very high against the backdrop of stable prices of high grade zircon sand from major overseas producers, domestic high grade zircon sand producers tried to continuously lower their prices to boost sales and recoup funds as a result of soft demand in the market. But transactions for domestic high grade zircon sand were still generally limited during December 2018. As for zirconium silicate 64.5%min, transactions generally declined in the Chinese spot market after most ceramics plants halted production, stimulating the competition among some producers to be fiercer; however, mainstream prices for zirconium silicate 64.5%min merely went down slightly by RMB100/t (USD14.81/t) from late November 2018 to RMB13,500-14,000/t (USD1,999-2,073/t) EXW in December 2018 due to some support made by relatively high prices for raw material zircon sand. As for zirconium oxychloride, major suppliers maintained low outputs in early December 2018 influenced by the policy on coal-to-gas rectification, leading to decreased supply in the market and stimulating mainstream prices to increase slightly by RMB50/t (USD7.40/t) from late November 2018 to RMB16,150-16,650/t (USD2,391-2,465/t) in early December 2018; however, due to soft demand in the market and decreased consumption volumes of downstream consumers, prices for zirconium oxychloride then declined to RMB16,000-16,500/t (USD2,369-2,443/t) EXW in late December 2018. As for pigment grade fused zirconia 98.5%min, transactions were limited in the spot market as consumers, who restricted the outputs of their own products, lowered their purchase volumes. As a result, mainstream prices for zirconium oxychloride dropped continuously by RMB600/t (USD88.85/t) from late November 2018 to RMB31,600-32,600/t (USD4,679-4,827/t) EXW in late December 2018.
China's import prices for Australian zircon sand basically kept stable in December 2018. In particular, CIF China prices for Australian zircon sand 66%min were USD1610-1,660/t during this month with the lowest prices up by USD30/t. Chinese buyers still could refill stocks of Australian zircon sand 66%min at USD1,610-1,640/t CIF China. Meanwhile, prices for Australian zircon sand 66%min made by Tronox were USD1,625-1,650/t. As for Indonesian zircon sand, some Indonesian producers lowered their prices in order to recoup funds due to soft demand from ceramics producers in China in spite of high prices of other major overseas suppliers. In particular, prices for Indonesian Central Kalimantan zircon sand 66%min were USD1,480-1,510/t CIF China during December 2018, down by USD5/t MOM.
