CHROMIUM: 27% FALL IN JAPANESE PRICES OF IMPORTED HIGH-CARBON FERRO-CHROME

摘要

The Japanese benchmark price for imported high-carbon ferro-chrome fell by 27% from US 162 cents/lb Cr in April to June 2017 to US118 cents/lb Cr in July to September (Figure 1). The drop was attributed to lower chrome ore raw material prices. Spot Chinese ferro-chrome prices dropped from a recent peak of US13O cents/lb Cr in December 2016 to as low as US60 cents/lb in June 2017, before rallying to US77 cents/lb in July as the market tightened following a decrease in ferro-chrome production. Japanese benchmark prices for high-carbon ferro-chrome are forecast to rise by 5-10% in the fourth quarter of 2017, reflecting higher chrome ore prices and higher electricity costs in South Africa.