[+/-] : Manganese market remains upward in China

17 Jul 08 - Manganese market keeps firm with the suppliers raising their offers to RMB20,000-20,500/t (USD2,937-3,010/t) ex works. Sources reported to Asian Metal that as the supply is decreasing in spot market, thereby many suppliers are holding back from selling, expecting a higher price later this month or in August.
A Hunan-based smelter who still has some deals to fulfill told Asian Metal that they keep few stocks at hand now. "Domestic market is slightly moving up from below RMB20,000/t (USD2,937/t) ex works," said the source who now offers RMB20,400-20,600/t (USD2,996-3,025/t) ex works. The source claimed it may take some time for buyers to get accustomed to the higher prices, but he is confident that demand would go stronger in the coming months and the buyers have to accept higher prices.
However, the source claimed that export market remains weak. "With many foreign participants on vacation, we receive few inquiries at the moment, and the price is also very low at below USD3,800/t FOB," said the source who stops offering for export now.
Another Hunan-based supplier sold out the stocks of two cargos at RMB21,000/t (USD3,084/t) delivered. "Many smelters in the area cut down or halted production, and it's difficult to fetch large quantities of of the material, " said the source who believes the suppliers are expecting higher prices due to the decreasing supply. "Suppliers are confident that the market would be warmer next month, so they would rather wait for some while."
But there are still some suppliers offeing prices of slightly lower than RMB20,000/t (USD2,937/t) ex works. "Some smelters might be facing financial difficulty and have to sell some material to collect cash," said the source who learnt some suppliers offer RMB19,800-19,900/t (USD2,907-2,922/t) ex works.

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[+/-] : Some antimony participants increased offers in China

17 Jul 08 – The supply of antimony ingot has become tight in domestic market recently, because as the Olympic Games is drawing near, the government release less explosives which reduced output of both raw materials and antimony ingot.
A Guangxi-based smelter with a monthly production capacity of around 400 tons revealed that the price of antimony ingot 99.65%min increased by RMB500/t from RMB39,000/t (USD5,727/t) last week to RMB39,500/t (USD5,800/t) this week. "The antimony ingot supply becomes tight as it is more difficult to get raw materials and there are relatively more inquiries coming. Therefore, we increased our offers."
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com W859
The source revealed that many small and non-state-owned smelters have suspended production or reduced output caused by the shortage of raw materials. The supply of antimony ingot becomes tight and the price may increase in domestic market before the end of Olympic Games.
A Guangxi-based antimony trioxide exporter who also deals with domestic trading confirmed that they increased their offers for antimony trioxide slightly in domestic market, because they find the antimony ingot difficult to get at present. "We need to wait longer time to get the antimony ingot these days. It is all caused by the government's control on explosive, especially when the Olympic Game is drawing near, fewer explosives are released," said the source, believing, "If the supply becomes tighter, the market may be picking up. However, the export price may stay stable during the summer holiday because the demand is low in the period."
A Lengshuijiang-based smelter stated that there are over 50% of non-state-owned smelters have been shut down in the area. Most of the smelters who are still in operation do not want to release the metal; if they do, the price of antimony ingot 99.65%min should be not lower than RMB37,800-38,000/t (USD5,551-5,580/t) VAT excluded. The source puts the mainstream price of antimony ingot 99.65%min was RMB37,500-37,800/t (USD5,507-5,551/t) VAT excluded in the first two weeks of July.

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[+/-] : Magnesium market still weak in China

17 Jun 08 - Owing to lack of consumer demand, the magnesium market still keeps quiet. Although smelters are trying their best to prevent the price from falling further, industry insiders believe that the price is likely to continue moving down slowly and steadily in the following two or three weeks as they still observe the oversupply in the market.
A Shanxi-based producer, who expanded its capacity from 3,000tpy to 10,000tpy in the second quarter this year, reported that they are under great pressure of the sluggish market. "We have lowered our offer to RMB28,300/t (USD4,125/t) ex works, but there are still no buyer showing interest," said the source.
Running at its full capacity for the time being, the smelter holds more than 200t of magnesium ingot in stock. The source thinks that demand from magnesium alloy and powder industry is still there, but most consumers are holding on for lower prices.
Asianmetal(English) http://www.asianmetal.com VF94
With a pessimistic expectation on the future market, the source predicts that the mainstream price of magnesium ingot will soon drop below RMB28,000/t (USD4,082/t) ex works. He takes the high stockpiles in Shaanxi to be a potential hazard to the whole market. "If more smelters who have large quantities of materials on hand started to empty stocks, the market will be dragged down sharply and rapidly," the source added.
An official from a Shaanxi-based smelter claimed that they just sold small tonnages of magnesium ingot at RMB29,500/t (USD4,300/t) delivered to Tianjin to a trader whose previous purchase from the smelter was closed at a price much lower than the mainstream price at that time. "But for the long-term relationships, we would not have achieved such a high price," said the source, adding that many others in the region have lowered offers to RMB28,000-28,500/t (USD4,082-4,155/t) ex works.
The smelter is running fully at its capacity of 5,000tpy and holds around 400t of the metal in stock, equivalent to one month's output. The source reported that demand has been weakening during the past month, and it is difficult for them to reduce stocks. "If the current situation keeps up, we will have to lower offers further to attract buyers," said the source. Like many other smelters, the source claimed that they would not accept any prices lower than RMB28,000/t (USD4,082/t) ex works. "At least this week," he added.

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[+/-] : Antimony In Hunan

In China the struggle of the central authority on closing small-scale mines and manufactures connected to production and reception of antimony proceeds - up to such 60 enterprises in a province Hunan are planned to be closed, for it will affect a problem with a concentrate and metal antimony on the global market. In the middle of June the Chinese Ministry of ground and natural resources began closing (and frequently having undermined) factories around of city Lenshujang at the centre of a province Hunan. According to the local dealers this destruction of production and manufacture will result to disappearance of approximately 30% of capacities in a province, that is equivalent of 7000 -10000 tons of contained metal per one year. "It can become a second Nundan!"- the dealers exclaim dramatically, meaning resolute destruction of points of production antimony concentrate (frequently illegal) in the next province Guangxi after large accident in 2001. After closing these objects, the province Hunan remains by the basic supplier of a concentrate (up to 70 % from the Chinese manufacture), thus large manufactures, such as Hsikwangshan Mining Administration, are not mentioned by restrictive measures.

While that the exporters are sure, that the prices gradually will go upwards in process of further increasing of a situation with a cash material in the market - however it is spoken within several years. Many dealers habitually "hold" the goods in account on increase of the prices, expecting that it will take place roughly at the end of August.

Mines and manufactures which became objects of actions of the central authorities, are small, as a rule, - 100-200 tons of metal per month, or metal in a concentrate. In opinion of the various people, there will be closed or destroyed 48 or 60 enterprises, or a half in general.

The representatives of the above-mentioned enterprise Hsikwangshan Mining Administration, which makes a brand-material Twinkling Star, have informed, that their manufactures will not be broken, and in 2003 it will make of 25 000 tons. The factory is compelled to use significant volumes of an imported concentrate to compensate shortage of raw material on a home market.

Except for obvious desire of the Chinese authorities constant incidents and failures in a mountain industry of China, the possible reason of restrictive measures is the attempt of attraction of the foreign investments for a conclusion of production of antimony to an acceptable level appropriate to the modern requirements of profitability, safety and ecology. According to the message on an official web - site of the central newspaper People's Daily, one company from Great Britain was compelled to refuse the plans of the investments in one of the local projects owing to absence " of guarantees of the elementary order in a mineral industry both prevalence partisan and illegal approach to process of development of minerals" in the province. Frequently places of production simply become unfit for use as a result of actions at a handicraft level with use of the completely primitive equipment, the official representative of an industry has declared.

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[+/-] : Antimony

Antimony is an element with an interesting history and properties. For a long time people have been using that wide enough. The element is required at both: technical field and culture development.

According to historians the first production of antimony was found at Ancient East 5 thousand years ago.

 History of Antimony

Besides gold, mercury, copper and other six elements, antimony is considered like a prehistoric element. Unfortunately the name of antimony discoverer is unknown. But is well known vessels were made of antimony in Babylon 3000 years B.C. Latin name of the element «stibium» occurs at works of Pliniy Sr. It descends from Greek «στιβι». Originally it denoted not an antimony metal but prolate mineral of antimony glance.

In ancient Europe people knew only antimony glance and start producing antimony regulus which was considered as semimetal. According to the Middle Ages prominent scientist at metal manufacturing Agricola: "When the certain portion of antimony is alloyed with the lead it results in the type alloy. It's used by book printers." Thus the element  №51 is applied  in printing for ages.

For the first time methods of  antimony refining and antimony properties, antimony compounds and alloys were described at a famous book «Triumphal car of Antimony» in 1604. The author referred needle antimony to as "Antimony". It was descended from the Greek "ανεμον" – flower (as needle antimony crystals look like a composite flower).

 The name "ANTIMONY" defined only this mineral very long time in Russia and overseas. Antimony metal was defined as regulus antimony (regulus antimoni). In 1789 Louvuosier included antimony at the list of elementary substances and called it "antimonie". Now this name remains in French language as the name of the element № 51. English and German names of this element are also similar - Antimony, Antimon.

But there is another version. According to that version the Superior of the abbey in Schtalgausen drew his attention to a very good state of health of the pigs, which licked "dark substance with metallic lustre" and decided to mix that into the monks meal. Forty monks died in the throes.

Since that the substance got the name "antimonium", i.e. substance "anti" "monks" (in full see "Life stone" by Y. Gashek).

Russian name of the element "sur'ma" descends from Turkish "s'urme", translated as "rubbing" or "darkening" of brows. Till 19th century the expression "eyebrows darkening" existed, though it was made with antimony compounds not always. The only antimony compound was used as eyebrow-dye – black modification of trisulfide antimony. So that first it was denoted by the word, which became the Russian name of element № 51.

What is it for?

Antimony metal is used very seldom because of its shortness. But metallurgists often add antimony into alloys as it strengthens solidity of other metals (tin, lead) and doesn't oxidize in usual environment. The number of alloys containing antimony is near to 200. The most famous antimony alloys are antimony lead, type metal, bearing metal.

Bearing metals are alloys with tin, lead and copper, sometimes with zinc and bismuth. 

This alloys are comparatively fustible and used in bearing brasses production by casting.  The most common-used alloys of this group are babbits containing 4-15 % of antimony.

Babbits are used in machine-tool construction, railway transport, motor transport. Bearing metals have considerable strength, fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance.

Antimony is the one of a number of metals that dilate when consolidating. Because of that type metal (alloy containing lead (82%), tin (3%) and antimony (15%) casting very well in moulds to produce prints; prints made of this alloy let to reach clear imprints.

Antimony increases strength and percussion stability.  

Lead alloyed with antimony (5 – 15%) is called antimony lead. 1% addition of antimony increases lead strength substantially. Antimony lead is used in chemical engineering, corrosive liquid pipes production, electric, telegraph, telephone cables sheathing production, electrodes and lead-acid battery grids production. Lead-acid secondary batteries are the largest metallurgical market for the element №54. Also antimony is used in lead alloy shot and ammunition. 

 Antimony compounds are also applied widely in engineering. Antimony trisulphide is used in matches and fireworks production. Most of antimony materials are made of antimony trisulphide.  Antimony pentasulphide is used in vulcanization of rubber. Red medical rubber containing antimony pentasulphide is very flexible. Heat resistant antimony trioxide is used in flame retardant paints, construction materials, textiles, conveyor belts, enamels.

High-purity antimony metal is used in the production of intermetallic compound semiconductor materials such as indium antimonide, aluminium antimonide and gallium antimonide. Antimony is used as a doping agent for one of the most important semiconductors – germanium.

Hydrated potassium antimonyl tartar, known as tartar emetic, is used in medicines for the treatment of stomach ailments.  The chemical, together with the less toxic organic antimonides – ethylstibamine, sodium antimonyl gluconate (Pentostam) and N-methylglucamine antimonate (Glucantime) – have been used to treat leishmaniasis, a disease transmitted by sandflies.

A lot of antimony compounds are used as pigments in pants production.

So antimony is one of the oldest metal known on the one hand and a very required one n the other.

 

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