Antimony market price up in Japan

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 16 Mar 05 - Chinese-grade antimony metal prices in Japan have climbed to a range between $3,000-3,200/mt CIF Japan from $3,000-3,050/mt CIF quoted in mid-February on the back of the tight supply of material, industry sources said.

"The quality of ore being mined in northern China has deteriorated and slowed supply to the market," one trader said. Another trader agreed, and said a number of deaths in the industry due to accidents at mine sites as far back as 2002 had resulted in the Chinese government imposing stricter safety measures, which had impacted on production.

Industry sources tipped late January that antimony metal prices would climb $100/mt to $3,150/mt underpinned by the tight supply of antimony concentrate. "Traders have concentrate and will offer when prices are favorable," an end-user said.Asian Metal Copyright "Traders have concentrate and will offer when prices are favorable," an end-user said.Asian Metal Copyright China, some sources noted, wanted to conserve domestic stocks of concentrate, and imported from Russia to ensure domestic supply would not be disrupted.