U.S. Gulf: Price ideas for sulfuric acid imported to the Gulf of Mexico remained concentrated at $45-$50/mt CFR, sources said, unmoved from recent reports. Pricing was based on Brazil import levels quoted at $45-$55/mt CFR, as well as $10-$15/mt FOB offers from Northwest European smelters. Atlantic liquid freight was called $30-$35/mt.
Cargoes headed for Chile were expected to bring $55-$65/mt CFR.
In the domestic market, sources noted Gulf-delivered product in the $90-$95/mt DEL range, unchanged from the prior week, while Midwest tons continued to command $80-$90/mt DEL. Acid bound for the West Coast was quoted in a $110-$115/mt DEL range.
London Metal Exchange zinc prices rose for the week, with tons trading at $2,278.50/mt on Sept. 21, versus $2,232.00/mt a week earlier.
India: The Bharat Aluminum Co. (BALCO) returned to full production at its Chhattisgarh aluminum smelter in August after approximately two years of reduced outputs due to slumping worldwide metal markets, The Times of India reported.
Cheap imports from China also factored into the cuts, sources speculated, where producers have been accused of ignoring market conditions and allowing production levels to outpace demand.
The plant’s capacity currently sits at approximately 600,000 mt/y, according to company documents. In May, BALCO announced plans to scale up production to 1 million mt/y.