Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia and Europe in the week to Friday February 14.
China
Key drivers
Fastmarkets' price assessment of
antimony, MMTA standard grade II, ddp China, increased in the latest assessment period after some suppliers raised offer prices amid growing buying interest and limited cargoes. Most producers in central China's Lengshuijiang city, a major production hub, were heard to have failed to restart operations last week amid efforts from the local government to control the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), including lockdowns and road transport constraints, causing supply tightness. Several consumers returned to the market to restock to meet prompt production needs and accepted higher offer prices. Market sources believe the metal's price will maintain the upward momentum for the whole of February against a backdrop of the tightening supply amid the coronavirus outbreak. Key quotes
"We...