Indium market relatively stabilizes
2005-04-08 09:08:48 【Print】
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 8 Apr 05 - Indium prices have greatly dived in the past two weeks from over USD1,000/kg in the international market and RMB9,200/kg Chinese domestic market, with current prices varying widely, ranging between USD910-980/kg and RMB8,200-8,800/kg.
Several market participants predicted that the market price would touch USD850/kg, but by week-end, the market seems to have stabilized a little, while most market participants take high expectations for the future market.
"The indium market is really confused with all kinds of prices quoted, but mainly in a range of USD940/kg to USD960/kg for 4Ns indium," a major Hong Kong-based trader told Asian Metal.
The trader recently purchased some indium from some long-term customers in China for around USD950/kg FOB. "We could easily get lower prices of USD920-940/kg, but we don’t want to do that, as long-term stable relationships are highly important to us," said the source. "When the price increased considerably in the past few weeks, our suppliers didn’t raise their prices, so we don’t bargain hard with them."
Most of the trader's indium is exported to Japan. The trader now quotes USD985/kg for 4Ns indium delivered to Japan. The trader also holds some long-term contracts with major Japanese buyers.
According to the trader, the indium market still shows a downward trend, but he believes that the market may turn up again sooner or later.
A major smelter in South China quotes RMB7,700/kg VAT excluded for its crude indium stock of 150kg. "We know the price is hard to accept by those buyers, but won’t lower our price," said an official of the smelter. The smelter had planned to put its refined indium production lines into operation this month but has decided to postpone that for now.
Another South China-based trader revealed to Asian Metal that it just placed an order early this week for 50kg crude indium 98%min at RMB 8,000/kg VAT included. "We want lower prices, but that will be difficult to get," said the trader.
Several market participants predicted that the market price would touch USD850/kg, but by week-end, the market seems to have stabilized a little, while most market participants take high expectations for the future market.
"The indium market is really confused with all kinds of prices quoted, but mainly in a range of USD940/kg to USD960/kg for 4Ns indium," a major Hong Kong-based trader told Asian Metal.
The trader recently purchased some indium from some long-term customers in China for around USD950/kg FOB. "We could easily get lower prices of USD920-940/kg, but we don’t want to do that, as long-term stable relationships are highly important to us," said the source. "When the price increased considerably in the past few weeks, our suppliers didn’t raise their prices, so we don’t bargain hard with them."
Most of the trader's indium is exported to Japan. The trader now quotes USD985/kg for 4Ns indium delivered to Japan. The trader also holds some long-term contracts with major Japanese buyers.
According to the trader, the indium market still shows a downward trend, but he believes that the market may turn up again sooner or later.
A major smelter in South China quotes RMB7,700/kg VAT excluded for its crude indium stock of 150kg. "We know the price is hard to accept by those buyers, but won’t lower our price," said an official of the smelter. The smelter had planned to put its refined indium production lines into operation this month but has decided to postpone that for now.
Another South China-based trader revealed to Asian Metal that it just placed an order early this week for 50kg crude indium 98%min at RMB 8,000/kg VAT included. "We want lower prices, but that will be difficult to get," said the trader.
