The antimony metal and trioxide markets remained tight, with China's environmental checks the main factor pushing the prices up; some market players hope that smelters in Hunan, China, could reopen at the end of October, easing supply.
Price movesThe Chinese antimony price steadily moved up in September due to tight domestic supply. Most producers suspended operations due to a shortage of raw materials and could only supply the market from inventories."With more stocks consumed by the market as time goes by, there will be less and less antimony available for [the domestic] market," a Chinese trader said.At the end of September, antimony prices reached a fresh twelve-month high.Antimony trioxide (ATO) prices have also been increasing, following the metal's price dynamics. The shortage persists in the United States market, sources said, driving prices up by 9% on a monthly basis.Market news: Environmental checks, logistic issues, electricity rationingThe closure of metal refineries in Lengshuijiang city, of Hunan province, the antimony...