U.S. Gulf:
Sources continued to call recent spot sulfuric vessel prices at $135-$140/mt CFR, unmoved from the prior report. Rising levels at Brazil were projected to lift the Gulf in the next round of business, however, with sources anticipating $155-$160/mt CFR values should a deal conclude today.
Gulf Coast:
Sulfuric acid delivered to the U.S. Gulf Coast was contracted in the $85-$110/st DEL range.
Midwest:
Midwest contracts for 2021 were reported even with the Gulf Coast at $85-$110/st DEL, unmoved from the prior report.
West Coast:
Sulacid values on the West Coast continued to be quoted in the $100-$130/st DEL range for 2021.
Brazil:
Recent business into Brazil was heard climbing to $155-$160/mt CFR from the week-ago $150-$155/mt CFR range. Discussions for the next round were noted at $165/mt CFR.
China:
Primary lead smelters operating in China’s Henan, Hunan, and Yunnan provinces operated at a combined 54 percent of capacity for the week ending April 30, Shanghai Metals Market reported, a 2.9 percentage point decline from the prior period.
Secondary lead smelters in Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, and Guizhou posted operating rates 5.19 points above the week-ago 50.73 percent level, however, due primarily to a 10.18-point utilization jump at smelters in Anhui.