U.S. Gulf:
Sources generally reported the Gulf spot import sulacid market in the $210-$215/mt CFR range, firming from $190-$195/mt CFR one week earlier.
Gulf Coast:
While annual Gulf Coast sulfuric acid contracts remained unchanged in the $85-$110/st DEL range, sources expected any shorter-term agreements settling currently to press above the $200/st DEL level due to a mix of international pricing, ongoing supply uncertainty, and logistics constraints.
Midwest:
Tons pointed into the Midwest carried $85-$110/st DEL pricing for 2021 agreements, sources said.
West Coast:
Players quoted West Coast annual deals in the $100-$130/st DEL range, unchanged from one week earlier.
Brazil:
Brazil spot values were heard climbing to $225-$230/mt CFR, a $30/mt leap from $195-$200/mt CFR reported previously.
Norway:
Swedish miner Boliden on July 21 announced a €700 million ($827.9 million) production expansion at its Odda zinc smelter in Norway, Reuters reported, nearly doubling output to 350,000 mt/y from the current 200,000 mt/y. Work at the facility will include the construction of a new sulfuric acid plant. Boliden expects to complete the project by late 2024.
China:
Aluminum smelter activity fell for a second consecutive month in June, according to data released by China’s National Bureau of Statistics and reported by Reuters. The rate softened 0.01 percent for the month, falling to 3.29 million mt from 3.32 million mt in May.
Despite the decline, June 2021 production was up 9.3 percent year-over-year. Outputs for the January-June period were posted at a record 19.64 million mt, a 10.1 percent improvement on year-ago levels.