Gallium market keeps firm
2005-04-06 09:30:58 【Print】
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 6 Apr 05 - Since Chalco set its sales price limit at USD320/kg earlier this year, the gallium market has kept firm, with current prices around USD300-320/kg FOB for export and RMB3,100-3,200/kg in the Chinese domestic market, producer and trader sources reported to Asian Metal.
"We just concluded a deal recently to the U.S. for USD330/kg CNF," an official from a major gallium smelter told Asian Metal. The source believes that the current market price should be in a range of USD320-330/kg.
The smelter has received more inquires these days and thinks that the market trend is quite positive.
"During this first quarter, we have completed around 2t of orders for the domestic market," the source claimed, having estimated Chinese gallium demand at 6-7tpm -- mainly comes from NdFeB industry -- of which the smelter enjoys a 60% market share.
"The demand from the GaN and GaAs industries are also showing an increasing trend, as well as some new usages developed that act as additives for crude oil refinery," said the source. Although the smelter has received several long-term inquires from the international market for long-term orders, the smelter is very prudent, expecting higher prices in the near future.
The smelter plans to produce around 15t gallium this year, the same as last year.
According the source, Chinese market prices for gallium are around RMB3,300/kg, however, the prices of those imported from CIS are only a little over RMB3,200/kg.
A major South China-based trader revealed to Asian Metal that a deal concluded two weeks ago for 1t 99.99%min gallium sold for close to USD340/kg CNF delivered in this Apr.
The trader claimed that the gallium market is relatively firm.
