U.S. Gulf: Sources called the Gulf sulfuric acid market at $45-$50/mt CFR, an increase from the last reported $45/mt CFR level. “Nothing below $45/mt CFR is possible, and I suspect $45/mt CFR isn’t either,” said one contact.
The firmer pricing was traced to $10-$15/mt FOB pricing at Northwest European smelters, up from $5-$15/mt FOB at last report. Observers correlated the increase with perceived supply tightening in a number of markets, both international and domestic.
The firmer producer numbers were predicted to push Brazil-delivered tons higher in the next round of business, but for the moment observers called last-done unchanged in the $45-$50/mt CFR range.
The West Coast domestic market was described as steady at $110-$110/t DEL, while Gulf-delivered tons were quoted at $85-$95/t DEL, unchanged from the week before. Midwest sulfuric acid fell in the $80-$90/t DEL range, flat from the prior week.