GLOBAL VANADIUM WRAP: Global vanadium prices up on tight supply
Date: Jun 20, 2018
The recent uptrend in prices persisted across the Chinese, European and United States’ vanadium markets owing to low availability.
- Fob China vanadium prices rose on domestic tightness as uptrend continues
- European ferro-vanadium market strengthened once again amid supply concerns
- US ferro-vanadium market ascends on low availability
Metal Bulletin assessed fob China ferro-vanadium min 78% prices at $67-71 per kg on Thursday June 14, up from $65-68 per kg on June 7.
While the assessment for vanadium pentoxide (V2O5), min 98%, was at $14.50-15.50 per Ib on June 14, up from $14.20-15 per lb the previous week.
Tightness in the domestic market, especially in V2O5, supported the market higher, while higher prices offered in overseas markets were accepted, encouraging Chinese exporters to increase prices, sources said.
“I sold 20 tonnes of ferro-vanadium to a Japanese buyer at $71, higher than my previous deal,” one exporter told Metal Bulletin, adding that major vanadium producers in China increased prices and export prices followed.
For V2O5, sources reported difficulty securing material below $14.50 per lb and the market saw an offer at $16 per lb.
“Low availability of V2O5 in the physical market will continuously provide support to prices,” one trader/exporter said, adding that few exporters hold V2O5 stocks at hand now.
The European ferro-vanadium market strengthened again last week, while availability concerns plague the market.
Metal Bulletin assessed spot prices for European ferro-vanadium at $72-73 per kg, delivered duty-paid in Europe, on June 15, up 60 cents on the low from $71.40-73 per kg during the mid-week assessment, according to Metal Bulletin.
