Spot prices fall across al regions

摘要

The lack of spot business concluded in the world's ferrochrome markets over the last quarter made it particularly difficult to gauge the extent to which spot prices for-ferrochrome-had weakened in response to significant cutbacks in stainless steel output over the same period. However, by the end of Q3 2005, a clearer picture had emerged, showing a dramatic decline in spot market prices. In Europe, spot prices for high carbon ferrochrome material averaged 60cents s/lb on a delivered to customer basis in September, falling by more than 12 cents/lb since the beginning of Q3 2005. We understand that prices have continued to fall in this market during the first weeks of October and are now being quoted at levels of around 58cents /lb and 59cents/lb. Similarly, in the USA spot market prices for imported charge and high carbon ferrochrome decreased to average just under 61 cents/lb during September, falling by 5cents/lb compared with August and by around 14cent/lb since the beginning of Q3 2005.