Restricted supply of material has sent domestic ferro-chrome and imported charge chrome prices higher in China during the week to Tuesday January 19, according to market sources.
Fastmarkets assessed
ferro-chrome, spot, 6-8% C, basis 50% Cr, ddp China at 7,500-8,000 yuan ($1,157-1,234) per tonne on Tuesday, up by 800-1,000 yuan (13%) from 6,700-7,000 yuan per tonne a week earlier, and at their highest level since June 2018.
"This is crazy; prices are changing every day. Offers that seemed dramatically high have been realized and sellers are pushing the market higher and higher," one ferro-chrome producer said.
Small furnaces in the city of Ulanqab, a major ferro-alloy production hub in China's autonomous region of Inner Mongolia,
remained shut, while power to other furnaces was restricted.
Around 67% of the targeted furnaces had been idled by January 17, according to a report from Ulanqab People's government.
In...