Price of western silicon metal unchanged

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 17 Oct 05 – Report from market participants suggest that the price of silicon 4-4-1 retains at EUR1,250/t delivered to customers despite outstanding inquiries flying around the market, coupled with traders showing kudos to the sales of the week, although market didn’t show any sign of pleasant activity.

Market players said market is still slow compared with the same period last year, but much better than last two months. “The market has been dull with price of 5-5-1 perching at around EUR1,250/t delivered to customers and 4-4-1 at around EUR1,270/t delivered to customers, “ said an European producers who reported a striking sales of over 4000/t last week, but reported no sales this week. According to the source, the price decreased from USD1,300/t to the present price

Demand was forecast to keep at this level until next year because stocks are more than demand, and producer are thinking of reducing stocks. “The cost of production is high by 50% and many producers will reduce stocks by next year.Asian Metal Copyright ”While spilling the beans, he told Asian Metal that Chemical and Aluminum Industries reduced their purchases this year and that bore on silicon demand.Asian Metal Copyright” Said the producer.Asian Metal CopyrightAnother source who puts his price in the range of EUR1,250-1300t delivered to customers for 4-4-1 opines that the steadiness of the price will not last for a long time as trader will find a way to clap the price up.Asian Metal Copyright “ With rising cost of raw materials, producers will do something to push the price up.Asian Metal Copyright The source, having a production capacity of about 50,000 per year, sells to Europe and sometimes to USA, and he confirmed that inquiries coming in these days are just for next year delivery as consumers have the mentality that price will cut off again before next year, so they don’t want to buy now.Asian Metal Copyright ”While spilling the beans, he told Asian Metal that Chemical and Aluminum Industries reduced their purchases this year and that bore on silicon demand.Asian Metal CopyrightMarket players said market is still slow compared with the same period last year, but much better than last two months.Asian Metal Copyright

The source, having a production capacity of about 50,000 per year, sells to Europe and sometimes to USA, and he confirmed that inquiries coming in these days are just for next year delivery as consumers have the mentality that price will cut off again before next year, so they don’t want to buy now. But he thinks price will  not continue to head down because it has come to a level where it will stay and the next action will be heading up.

Another source who puts his price in the range of EUR1,250-1300/t delivered to customers for 4-4-1 opines that the steadiness of the price will not last for a long time as trader will find a way to clap the price up. According to him, this week, a consumer placed an order for 3-3-0-3 at EUR1,240/t delivered to customers but he rejected it.