Molybdenum/Prices soften as stainless stagnates

摘要

After long weeks of little change molybdenum prices have softened. Not much, it must be said, but in this market a dollar move is a big one. And that's the scale of the slippage this month. Where mid-August saw oxide at around 33.75-34.25 dollars/lb in Europe, and ferromolybdenum at 80 dollars/lb, the past week has seen oxide touch 33 dollars/lb and ferromolybdenum dip below 79 dollars/lb. True, the market is quiet, and there is some spread on prices. Though few seem interested in spot purchases, European steel makers currently look for material at around 33.25-33.50 dollars/lb for oxide and 78-79 dollars/lb for ferromolybdenum. Producers are quoting 33.50-33.75 dollars/lb for oxide and close to 79 dollars/kg for ferromolybdenum, but traders claim oxide is now below 33 dollars/lb and still at 33.59 dollars/lb only in the US.