Chinese zircon sand market fulfills negative attitudes about supplier's up offers
2023-03-20 08:44:09 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 20 Mar 23 - Upon the tightening supply of intermediate zircon ore, Chinese zircon sand 65%min suppliers lifted offers by RMB500-1,000/t (USD72-144/t) to RMB15,800-16,200/t (USD2,290-2,348/t) EXW D/P this week against early last week, while the spot market sees few deals closed, and the current mainstream prices of zircon sand 65%min in China hover at RMB15,200-15,500/t (USD2,203-2,246/t) EXW D/P, unchanged from early last week. Given the sluggish demand but firm offers from suppliers, insiders predict the mainstream prices of zircon sand 65%min in China would keep steady next week.
A consumer in Guangdong disclosed that they regularly could use at least 300t of zircon sand 65%min every month last quarter, but only 100t at most every month in Q1 as they're using zircon sand 58-60%min as alternative to reduce production cost. "I purchased 80t of zircon sand 65%min at RMB15,500/t (USD2,246/t) early this week from a supplier who quoted RMB16,000/t (USD2,319/t) on Friday, and the supplier could consider giving some discount for firm bids on Friday, and I believe it's hard for the prices of zircon sand 65%min to go up dragged by the sluggish demand and prices would keep stable next week," revealed the consumer last Friday.
With an annual consumption capacity of 12,000t, the consumer expects to consume all various level of zircon sand at around 500t this month, unchanged from last month, holding about 800t in stock.
A trader in Hainan disclosed that he could hardly close any deals at the price above RMB15,600/t (USD2,261/t) EXW D/A 180 days as most of his zirconium silicate clients cut their consumption of zircon sand 65%min and turned to 50-58%min with good whiteness now to lower production cost. "I could purchase at RMB15,300/t (USD2,217/t) EXW D/P from producers late this week even though the suppliers lifted offers to RMB15,800/t (USD2,290/t) upon the tightening supply of intermediate zircon ore, and I last purchased 300t at RMB15,300/t (USD2,217/t) early this week," revealed the trader last Friday. Given firm offers but sluggish demand, he foresees the mainstream prices of zircon sand 65%min in China would go firm next week.
The trader, based on a regular monthly purchase amount for zirconium carbonate of about 500t for all categories of zircon sand, expects to trade about 300t in March, unchanged from last month, holding no stocks.
A consumer in Guangdong disclosed that they regularly could use at least 300t of zircon sand 65%min every month last quarter, but only 100t at most every month in Q1 as they're using zircon sand 58-60%min as alternative to reduce production cost. "I purchased 80t of zircon sand 65%min at RMB15,500/t (USD2,246/t) early this week from a supplier who quoted RMB16,000/t (USD2,319/t) on Friday, and the supplier could consider giving some discount for firm bids on Friday, and I believe it's hard for the prices of zircon sand 65%min to go up dragged by the sluggish demand and prices would keep stable next week," revealed the consumer last Friday.
With an annual consumption capacity of 12,000t, the consumer expects to consume all various level of zircon sand at around 500t this month, unchanged from last month, holding about 800t in stock.
A trader in Hainan disclosed that he could hardly close any deals at the price above RMB15,600/t (USD2,261/t) EXW D/A 180 days as most of his zirconium silicate clients cut their consumption of zircon sand 65%min and turned to 50-58%min with good whiteness now to lower production cost. "I could purchase at RMB15,300/t (USD2,217/t) EXW D/P from producers late this week even though the suppliers lifted offers to RMB15,800/t (USD2,290/t) upon the tightening supply of intermediate zircon ore, and I last purchased 300t at RMB15,300/t (USD2,217/t) early this week," revealed the trader last Friday. Given firm offers but sluggish demand, he foresees the mainstream prices of zircon sand 65%min in China would go firm next week.
The trader, based on a regular monthly purchase amount for zirconium carbonate of about 500t for all categories of zircon sand, expects to trade about 300t in March, unchanged from last month, holding no stocks.
