Europe's low-carbon ferro-chrome market continued the steady price rise that began after dropping to multi-year lows in 2020 with prices supported on high logistical costs, sources said.
Fastmarkets' price assessment for
ferro-chrome 0.10% C, average 65-70% Cr, delivered Europe was $2.13-2.40 per lb Cr on Tuesday April 13, a rise of 1-2 cents (0.7%) from $2.12-2.38 per lb Cr on March 30.
"Logistics - meaning containers - are still a major issue for us and costs have more than doubled since last year," a producer said. "Credit insurance providers have withdrawn their coverage from a number of EU customers so we see less traders competing with us because it's become more risky."
The reduced availability and high cost of containers in some regions could remain amid ongoing problems for ferro-chrome supply in Europe, sources said.
"We're mostly supplying from...