Chinese minor metal, ore and alloy market reactions to South African lockdown extension diverge

Chinese minor metal, ore and alloy markets had mixed reactions to news of an extended South African lockdown.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday April 9 extended the national lockdown by a further two weeks from the initial 21-day lockdown announced on March 26 to stem the spread of Covid-19, which has caused multiple mines and smelters across the country to shut down.
But Ramaphosa also pointed out that in the coming days the government will evaluate how to embark on risk-adjusted measures that can enable a phased recovery of the economy and allow certain sectors to return to operation under strictly controlled conditions.
Most of the existing lockdown measures will remain in force until the end of April, he noted.
Chrome, cobalt participants calmer amid weak demand

Chrome market participants' reaction to the 14-day extension to the lockdown has been more muted that to the initial 21-day lockdown, with the focus more on deteriorating demand than on supply disruptions.
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