antimony supply Archives

China’s Hsikwangshan reopens antimony furnace

Beijing —

Major Chinese antimony producer Hsikwangshan Twinkling Star restarted its blast furnace this week, after suspending it for more than a month because of a shortage of concentrate feedstock availability.

The firm is aiming to ensure metal output of 1,500 t/month after reopening the blast furnace to meet its annual production target, although concentrate supplies from other countries have remained tight.

Hsikwangshan’s south mine reached its monthly production targets in April and May, with 1,200 t/month metal equivalent of antimony concentrate output during the two months, according to a company source.

China imported 7,545t of antimony concentrate during January-April, down by 41pc from the previous year, according to customs data. Shipments were 988t in April, down sharply from 2,493t in March and from 4,797t a year earlier.

Hsikwangshan, with 40,000 t/yr of capacity for antimony products, produced 24,000t last year, down from 26,000t in 2020 and 28,000t in 2019.

Most private-sector metal producers in Lengshuijiang city, China’s largest antimony production hub, have yet to reopen their blast furnaces, which produce the intermediate feedstock antimony oxygen powder, because of tight concentrate supplies. It will be difficult for them to reopen the furnaces this year because all feedstock supplies will be shipped to large-scale producers such as Hsikwangshan and Chenzhou Mining, according to sources at the smelters. But some of them may be still operating some refining furnaces with a certain volume of metal output by using standby feedstock inventories, according to market participants. The seven producers in Lengshuijiang have a combined metal capacity of 35,000-40,000 t/yr.

China produced 7,204t of antimony metal in April, up from 5,821t a year earlier but down slightly from 7,324t in March, according to data from the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association. Output during January-April totalled 24,950t, up from 20,562t for the same period last year.

The Chinese antimony market has been subdued with the reduced activity, with most producers withholding material sales at lower prices and consumers showing limited restocking interest. Most participants are sitting on the market sidelines while waiting for a recovery in economy when the Covid-19 pandemic is under control. Prices for 99.85pc grade antimony metal were last assessed at 80,000-81,000 yuan/t ($11,957-12,106/t) on 31 May, unchanged since 10 May.

Article Retrieved from: ArgusMetal

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Weaker demand to dampen Chinese antimony prices

Beijing, 16 May —

Chinese antimony prices are expected by market participants to soften further in the short term because of limited demand from the flame retardant industry, following consecutive price falls over the past month.

Prices have continued to fall since 12 April from a 10-year high in mid-March, as Covid-19 outbreaks and lockdowns in China have stemmed market activity and buying interest in the main consumption areas in east China.

Prices for 99.65pc grade antimony metal were last assessed unchanged at 79,000-80,000 yuan/t ($11,636-11,784/t) ex-works on 12 May, following a combined fall of Yn2,500/t over 12 April-10 May.

Most primary antimony metal is used as a flame retardant together with bromine, which is added in plastic products that are further consumed by the electronics, vehicles and other instrument industries.

But renewed buying interest from the seaborne market in February and March shored up market confidence and prompted antimony producers to float higher offer prices during these two months, when they expected downstream consumers to replenish stocks when they run out of stocks in this year’s second quarter. China exported 3,772t of antimony metal during January-March, up by 26pc from 2,996t a year earlier, customs data show.

“Domestic and overseas demand became weak in April and we are unsure when the situation will be better,” a market participant told Argus.

Major Chinese antimony producer Hsikwangshan Twinkling Star closed its blast furnace in late April because of low concentrate feedstock availability. The suspension is expected to last for at least one month. Hsikwangshan, with 40,000 t/yr of output capacity for antimony products, produced 24,000t last year, down from 26,000t in 2020 and 28,000t in 2019.

Production halts

The seven private-sector metal producers in Lengshuijiang have a combined output capacity of 35,000-40,000 t/yr. They are likely to completely halt metal production if concentrate supply shortages persist in May.

They also halted their blast furnaces in April because of concentrate supply shortages. Some of them may not restart their furnaces this year because all feedstock supplies will be shipped to large-scale producers such as Hsikwangshan and Chenzhou Mining, according to sources at some smelters.

China imported 6,557t of antimony concentrate during January-March, down by 18pc from a year earlier, according to customs data. Shipments reached 2,493t in March, down from 3,671t a year earlier.

There will remain downside potential for the antimony market in the short term because of slower economic growth caused by China’s lockdowns. It is unlikely prices will drop significantly in the long term either, as tighter metal supplies continue and the lockdowns in Shanghai are expected to be gradually lifted next month, according to market participants.

Article Retrieved from: ArgusMetal

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China’s January-March antimony metal output rises

Beijing, 9 May (Argus) —

China’s antimony metal output during January-March increased on the year, with producers lifting production in response to higher spot prices in the first three months of the year, and renewed demand from seaborne consumers.

Production totalled 17,746t, up from 14,742t in the same period last year, according to China’s Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNMIA) data. Production in March rose to 7,324t, up from 3,280t in February, and up from 4,371t in March 2021.

Export prices for the metal were assessed stable at $13,700-13,900/t fob during 25 April-5 May, following a fall of $400/t on 21 April. Prices are likely to fall further this week on weaker demand both from domestic and seaborne consumers.

Key metal producers in Hunan’s Lengshuijiang city in late April closed their blasting furnaces on a lack of concentrate availability. This, coupled with the expectations of a recovery in economic growth after the current Covid-19 crisis in the country is brought under control, may slow the downward trend of the market.

China’s antimony metal production
Province	Jan-Mar 2021	Jan-Mar 2022

Hunan	12,051	14,971
Yunnan	1,335	1,579
Guangxi	371	509
Guizhou	985	686
Total	14,742	17,746
Source: China’s Nonferrous Metals Industry Association

Article Retrieved from: ArgusMetal

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Chinese antimony smelters shut furnaces on ore shortage

Beijing, 28 April (Argus) —Major Chinese antimony producer Hsikwangshan Twinkling Star closed its blast furnace this week because of a lack of concentrate feedstock availability. The suspension is expected to last for at least one month.

All seven private-sector metal producers in Lengshuijiang city, China’s largest antimony production hub, have also halted their blast furnaces this month because of concentrate supply shortages. They may not reopen their furnaces this year because all feedstock supplies will be shipped to large producers such as Hsikwangshan and Chenzhou Mining, according to sources at some smelters.

Hsikwangshan’s antimony mine can support only 200-300 t/month metal equivalent of antimony production, so it has to purchase concentrate and metal from other producers to maintain its production. Hsikwangshan, which has 40,000 t/yr of capacity for antimony products, produced 24,000t last year, down from 26,000t in 2020 and 28,000t in 2019.

The seven private-sector metal producers in Lengshuijiang have a combined capacity of 35,000-40,000 t/yr. They are likely to completely stop metal production if concentrate supply shortages persist in May.

China imported 6,557t of antimony concentrate during January-March, down by 18pc from a year ago, according to Chinese customs data. Shipments reached 2,493t in March, down from 3,671t a year earlier. Depleting resources in China and reduced shipments from other countries have prompted the smelters in Lengshuijiang to close their blast furnaces.

Argus assessed prices for 99.85pc grade metal stable at 81,000-82,000 yuan/t ($12,270-12,420/t) ex-works this week, following a fall of Yn1,000/t on 21 April.

“We have limited metal stocks, and sold 40t of 99.85pc grade metal at Yn81,000/t this week to generate cash,” a source at a smelter in Lengshuijiang told Argus.

Most producers and traders are upbeat about the market outlook, despite low demand from downstream consumers over this past month. They find it meaningless to cut offer prices to attract sales because consumers will not make purchases even if prices move lower, after Covid-19 lockdowns forced them to also halt production. Prices are likely to move up in the coming months in light of continued tight supply and expected restocking activity from domestic and overseas consumers, market participants said.

Article Retrieved from: ArgusMetal

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China’s antimony concentrate imports rise in Jan-Feb

Beijing, 18 April (Argus) —

China’s antimony concentrate imports in January-February rose on the year, as Chinese smelters sought more concentrate supply outside of the country on concerns of depleted resources in China.

China imported 4,064t of antimony concentrate during January-February, up from 3,393t the previous year, according to Chinese customs data. Shipments were at 2,195t in January and 1,869t in February. But imports in March and April are likely to fall because of disruptions brought about by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Russia is the second-largest antimony producer after China. Russia exported 38,364t of antimony concentrate during 2020-21, with 68.2pc shipped to China. The remainder went to Vietnam, Oman, and South Korea with the countries taking 8,946t, 2,496t and 762t respectively, customs data show. China imported 988t of antimony concentrate from Russia in the first two months of this year, compared with 1,035t in the corresponding period of 2021.

Prices for 99.65pc grade metal were last assessed at 81,000-82,000 yuan/t ($12,709-12,866/t) ex-works on 14 April, stable after dipping by Yn500/t on 12 April. The decrease on 12 April came surprisingly as prices have risen continuously since early February, supported by concentrate supply tightness and renewed demand from seaborne consumers. But weak demand from domestic downstream consumers outweighed supply tightness and weighed on the market slightly last week.

China’s antimony concentrate imports (t)

Article Retrieved from: ArgusMetal