| The TEX Report Topics < Ferro Alloys > | |
| HOME >> Topics List >> October, 2008 >> 23 (Thu) |
| Actual Quantities Of Manganese Ferro-Alloys Supplied And Consumed In Japan For First Half 2008 |
| = Quantities Of Medium And low Carbon Ferro-Manganese Consumed And Imported Had Increases |
|
Let us trace the actual quantities (on material base) of manganese ferro-alloys supplied and consumed in Japan for the first half (January - June) of 2008, when the steel industry of Japan produced 61.895 million tons of crude steel as increased by 4.2% compared with that (59.419 million tons) in the same period of 2007. Accordingly, when the actual quantities of manganese ferro-alloys consumed by Japan in the first half of 2008 are compared with those in the same period of 2007, <> high carbon ferro-manganese : increased by 6.4%, <> silico-manganese : increased by 9.3% and <> medium and low carbon ferro-manganese : increased by 28.2%. Also, when the actual quantities of manganese ferro-alloys imported by Japan in the first half of 2008 are compared to those in the same period of 2007, <> high carbon ferro-manganese : decreased by 5.1%, <>silico-manganese : increased by 2.5% and <> medium and low carbon ferro-manganese : increased by 2.68 times. Reflecting the fact that major steel companies of Japan have shifted their usage from electrolytic manganese metal to low carbon ferro-manganese, the consumption of low carbon ferro-manganese in Japan had a substantial increase as mentioned above and, following this aspect, the imports of low carbon ferro-manganese into Japan in the first half of 2008 increased accordingly. The actual quantities (on material base) of manganese ferro-alloys produced, consumed, imported, exported and sold in domestic market and stocked by Japan in the first half of 2008 were as per the table attached hereto. The market prices of manganese ferro-alloys in the first half of 2008 had risen steeply, because of the matters which manganese ore as raw material has come to the tightened supply, having caused to soar its international price, and the consumers concerned in China and overseas countries were in a fever to secure cargoes of manganese ferro-alloys for forward shipments in preparation for the Beijing Olympic Games in August. The price of Chinese silico-manganese was US$1,900 per ton at the beginning of 2008 but rose by 30% to US$2,450 in July. Also, the prices of manganese ore as raw material contracted with Chinese customers and imported into China in the first 9 months of 2008 were <> for January - March quarter : US$11.00 per Mn 1% CIF, <> for April - June quarter : US$12.20 CIF and <> for July - September quarter : US$16.20 CIF, having shown a continuous and steep rise for the successive three quarters. Namely, the mines side had taken the drastic offensive to rise price of manganese ore. However, the Beijing Olympic Games held in August has become a turning point and the international prices of manganese ferro-alloys started to fall. In addition, the turmoil in financial markets emerged in the middle of September has caused to pass a peak of manganese prices and to turn to a sharp fall of the prices. The market price of Chines silico-manganese at present has fallen to a nearer price to US$2,000 per ton and approached to the level as seen at the beginning of this year. Also, spot price of manganese ore had risen to a higher level of US$20 per Mn 1% CIF China in spring of this year but is now turning to fall on a basic tone. The price of manganese ore proposed by a major manganese mine for shipments to China in October - December quarter of 2008 is said as US$16.30 per Mn 1% CIF but Chinese side has taken an attitude to watch carefully about further movements of price for manganese ore for a while, because the present situation to produce silico-manganese in China will certainly come to be a loss for higher price of manganese ore as raw material. In the course of time, the inquiries for manganese ferro-alloys to be placed by steel companies of Japan before Chinese suppliers have been hushed for the last 2 - 3 months and these steel companies have held back to purchase manganese ferro-alloys. This manner is due to the increased stocks of manganese ferro-alloys at mills but it is anticipated that Japanese side has a possibility to leave from the suspended purchases as continued for a long period and to enter@again into the market. Incidentally, the world economy is being depressed and it is marked to see how to react to this depression by new purchases of manganese ferro-alloys from Japan. China decreased their production of crude steel in August but, if it is confirmed that this trend continues in September, the market prices of manganese ferro-alloys will certainly turn to a weak tone. |
 |
| last modified : Tue 28 Oct, 2008 [10:40] |
