U.S. Gulf: Sulfuric acid market players reported no change in price ideas for vessels imported to the Gulf of Mexico, with the market unchanged at $35-$45/mt CFR.
The CFR levels were traced back to a range of (-)$5-$5/mt FOB, believed to be offered from Northwest European smelters. Price ideas to Brazil were $35-$45/mt CFR, along with $45-$60/mt CFR to Chile, both unchanged from last report.
Trading on the London Metal Exchange was mixed for the week. Copper, lead, nickel, and zinc closed higher on March 9 from the week before, but aluminum was down.
Aluminum fell to $1,564.00/mt from $1,597.00/mt a week earlier, and copper was logged at $4,935.50/mt, an increase from $4,780.00/mt at last report.
Lead was $1,858.00/mt, a rise from $1,795.00/mt at last check, and nickel closed the day a $8,785.00/mt, up from $8,760.00/mt the week before. Zinc was also up slightly, at $1,798.00/mt versus $1,796.50/mt one week earlier.
U.S. Imports: July-January imports were up 10 percent, to 2.34 million st from the year-ago 2.13 million st. January was less robust but still up 6 percent, to 305,451 st from 287,489 st.
Australia: Incitec Pivot Ltd. (IPL) increased estimates regarding the amount of sulfuric acid spilled in a Dec. 27, 2015, train car derailment in Queensland. IPL now estimates the spill at 150 mt, up from initial assessments of about 60 mt. IPL arrived at the updated figure by weighing the acid recovered from the derailed tankers.