U.S. Gulf:
Spot price ideas on vessels imported to the U.S. Gulf were heard firming to $220-$225/mt CFR, up from $210-$215/mt CFR in the prior report.
Gulf Coast:
Sulfuric acid delivered to U.S. Gulf Coast locations was quoted in the $85-$110/st DEL range for 2021 agreements. Players reported annual Lower Atlantic market contracts in the $90-$110/st DEL range.
Midwest:
Sources called the Midwest market even with the Gulf Coast at $85-$110/st DEL.
West Coast:
West Coast sulacid pricing carried $100-$130/st DEL pricing for current-year agreements, players reported.
Brazil:
The Brazil spot market was noted firming to $245-$250/mt CFR, up from $225-$230/mt CFR in the prior report.
China:
Restrictions on power consumption imposed in a number of Chinese provinces have continued to impact smelter production, numerous sources reported.
Fresh curbs announced in July for aluminum and zinc smelters in the southern Yunnan province, as well as aluminum and copper smelters in Guangxi autonomous region, will trigger output reductions during the late-summer period, Reuters reported.
Private copper smelter Guangxi Nanguo took the opportunity to move up a planned 45-day turnaround, shutting the 300,000 mt/y unit through most of the August-September period, according to MetalBulletin.com.
Aluminum smelters in Guanxi were notified by local electricity provider Guangxi Power Grid Co. of a mandatory 30 percent reduction in power consumption in effect as of Aug. 15, Fastmarkets reported. Total aluminum smelting capacity from Guangxi was noted at 1.9 million mt/y, with current operating rates pegged at 93 percent.
Denmark:
Haldor Topsoe, Lyngby, Denmark reported on Aug. 12 that it has increased prices for sulfuric acid by €0.25 per liter. It said the increase was driven by a substantial increase in the price of vanadium, which is a necessary raw material for sulfuric acid catalysts.