China's domestic bismuth price has maintained its strong market level in a tight spot market, after picking up in mid-July, trading sources said.
Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for bismuth 99.99% Bi min, in-whs China was at 37,000-38,500 yuan ($5,306-5,521) per tonne on Friday July 31, up by 1,500 yuan per tonne or 4.1% from 36,000-36,500 yuan per tonne a week earlier.
Market participants had been pessimistic over the bismuth market due to sluggish downstream demand and expected the price to fall below 34,000 yuan per tonne, however, the price stayed at 34,000-35,000 yuan per tonne from June 19 to July 10, Fastmarkets heard.
In fact, the bismuth price received a boost and increased by more than 3,000 yuan per tonne in the three weeks after July 10.
"This round of upturns has been triggered by speculative market...