The price differential between high and low-grade cobalt narrowed last week, reflecting strong demand for units with chemical applications and a pronounced tightness for broken cathodes and briquettes.
Prices for both grades continued to firm while consumer demand and tight supply persisted in the week before the Lunar New Year. Metal Bulletin's benchmark low-grade cobalt price assessment ended the week at $37.75-38.90 per lb, in-warehouse, up 25 cents on the low-end of the range, and up 40 cents on the high-end, compared with the midweek assessment, and continues on the uptrend that began in June 2016. High-grade cobalt prices were assessed at $37.75-39 per lb, in-warehouse, on Friday February 9, unchanged on the low from Wednesday, but up 50 cents on the high. Low-grade and high-grade prices gained 1.2% and 1%...