Chinese tungsten carbide powder prices continue to increase
2016-03-01 08:43:29 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 1 Mar 16 - Chinese tungsten carbide powder market saw few purchasing activities early this week as consumers were still cautious about making deals. However, most producers were reluctant to accept new orders because it was hard to purchase cheaper raw materials. The mainstream prices of medium-sized tungsten carbide powder increased further to RMB157-160/kg (USD24.0-24.5/kg), up by RMB2/kg (USD0.3/kg) from those of last week.
A producer based in South China who has an annual production capacity of 2,400 tons claimed that the mainstream prices of medium-sized tungsten carbide powder went up to RMB157-160/kg (USD24.0-24.5/kg), up by RMB2/kg (USD0.3/kg) from those of last week. The cemented carbide market is quiet and few consumers would like to accept the current price. “We haven’t resumed production yet as orders remain rare and it is hard to purchase APT 88.5%min at prices lower than RMB100,000/t (USD173/mtu) in the spot market,” said the source, adding that they produced 80t of tungsten carbide powder in last December and ceased production in January. They have no stocks of tungsten carbide powder now.
According to him, it is hard to insure APT supply in advance, so they are not in a hurry to accept new orders. The cemented carbide market usually is quiet in early March, and the demand for tungsten carbide powder will not pick up soon. They prefer to watch the market in the near term.
Another producer with a production capacity of 3,000 tons per year revealed that due to tight supply of raw material, they preferred to raise their offer of medium-sized tungsten carbide powder to RMB160/kg (USD24.5/kg), up by RMB2/kg (USD0.3/kg) from that of last week. “Now tungsten concentrate and APT prices remain firm, so it is hard for us to purchase cheaper raw materials. We will lose money if our dealing price for medium-sized tungsten carbide powder is lower than RMB160/kg (USD24.5/kg) according to current raw materials’ prices,” said the source, adding that the plant produced less than 50t of tungsten carbide powder in February and held no stocks in hand.
"The demand from cemented carbide industry is slow, and the price of tungsten carbide powder is pushed up by higher raw material price,” said the source. Chinese APT 88.5%min prices rise to RMB98,000-100,000/t (USD169-173/mtu), increased by RMB2,000/t (USD3.5mtu) from those of last week. He forecasted that tungsten carbide powder price will go up accordingly in the future.
A producer based in South China who has an annual production capacity of 2,400 tons claimed that the mainstream prices of medium-sized tungsten carbide powder went up to RMB157-160/kg (USD24.0-24.5/kg), up by RMB2/kg (USD0.3/kg) from those of last week. The cemented carbide market is quiet and few consumers would like to accept the current price. “We haven’t resumed production yet as orders remain rare and it is hard to purchase APT 88.5%min at prices lower than RMB100,000/t (USD173/mtu) in the spot market,” said the source, adding that they produced 80t of tungsten carbide powder in last December and ceased production in January. They have no stocks of tungsten carbide powder now.
According to him, it is hard to insure APT supply in advance, so they are not in a hurry to accept new orders. The cemented carbide market usually is quiet in early March, and the demand for tungsten carbide powder will not pick up soon. They prefer to watch the market in the near term.
Another producer with a production capacity of 3,000 tons per year revealed that due to tight supply of raw material, they preferred to raise their offer of medium-sized tungsten carbide powder to RMB160/kg (USD24.5/kg), up by RMB2/kg (USD0.3/kg) from that of last week. “Now tungsten concentrate and APT prices remain firm, so it is hard for us to purchase cheaper raw materials. We will lose money if our dealing price for medium-sized tungsten carbide powder is lower than RMB160/kg (USD24.5/kg) according to current raw materials’ prices,” said the source, adding that the plant produced less than 50t of tungsten carbide powder in February and held no stocks in hand.
"The demand from cemented carbide industry is slow, and the price of tungsten carbide powder is pushed up by higher raw material price,” said the source. Chinese APT 88.5%min prices rise to RMB98,000-100,000/t (USD169-173/mtu), increased by RMB2,000/t (USD3.5mtu) from those of last week. He forecasted that tungsten carbide powder price will go up accordingly in the future.
Tungsten Powder 99.95%min 2.5-7.0μm EXW China
Unit:RMB/kg
China tungsten carbide producers' inventory to production ratio statistics by province by month
Unit: %
