The antimony market had a volatile year in 2020 but was buoyed by ongoing trade flow disruptions and ore tightness in China that should continue to support prices in early 2021.
"In 2020 there was the perfect storm," a European trader said. "We are facing an extreme supply squeeze."
Freight rates for both bulk vessels and containers have
soared to record highs in recent months amid higher global shipping demand and rising crude oil costs.
At the same time, the
strengthening of the Chinese yuan against the US dollar since the middle of last year, following a strong economic recovery in China after the turmoil caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, also provided support to antimony prices.
Fastmarkets' price assessment for
antimony, standard grade II, in-warehouse Rotterdam was $6,850-7,100 per tonne on January 6, up by 31.6% from $5,200-5,400 per tonne on July 31, when the price started its current uptrend.
Similarly, Fastmarkets' price assessment for antimony max 100 ppm Bi, in-whs Rotterdam was $7,000-7,200 per tonne on January 6, up by 32.7% from $5,250-5,450 on July...