U.S. Gulf: Sulfuric acid market players generally put price ideas for Gulf import vessels at $40-$45/mt CFR, flat from the previous report. Claims of tight supply from producers provided little leverage to prospective buyers, some argued. Offers for acid shipped from Northwest Europe were called $5-$10/mt FOB. Brazil imports continued to be reported in the $40-$50/mt CFR range.
In the domestic markets, sellers described sales into the Midwest at $80-$85/mt DEL, with material destined for the West Coast reported at $105-$115/mt DEL. Tons earmarked for U.S. Gulf-region delivery were called $85-$90/mt DEL.
Chile: South American copper miner Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile (Codelco) plans to build two new sulfuric acid production plants in Chile, multiple reports indicated. SNC-Lavalin was awarded the EPC contract to build both facilities.
The factories will replace two acid plants currently in operation at a mining site in northern Chile, employing technology from Dupont-subsidiary MECS Inc. to process off-gas from the Chuquicamata Copper Smelter Complex, SNC-Lavalin said in a press release.
The plants are each expected to boast a 2,048 mt/d operating capacity. Construction is slated to begin in early 2017.
Sources called price ideas for sulfuric acid imported to Chile in the $50-$60/mt CFR range, unmoved from the previous report.