U.S. Gulf: Market watchers described recent business in the U.S. import market at $40-$45/mt CFR, unchanged from the prior report. New business was expected to creep toward the upper end of the range, with some claiming the $40/mt CFR tons were now unavailable.
Brazil imports, last heard in the $45-$50/mt CFR range, were also projected to firm. Northwest European smelter rates were seen nudging higher to $5-$15/mt FOB on expectations of tightening supply.
In the domestic market, sources quoted Gulf-delivered tons in the $85-$95/t range, flat from the week before. Midwest business was called $80-$90/t DEL, while West Coast tons, roundly predicted to face short-term supply pressure as soon as April, remained at $100-$110/t DEL for the week.
Peru: Peruvian Zinc smelter Votorantim has temporarily shuttered operations at its Cajamarquilla smelter due to flooding and mudslides, Reuters reported. The conditions were blamed for upsetting rail transport and cutting the availability of running water at the 340,000 mt/y plant, rendering continued operations at the facility impossible.
Peru is a key supplier of sulfuric acid to the Chilean market.