【Flash | Lower-Priced Overseas Oxide Deal Weighs on China’s Molybdenum Market】
SMM learned that a European stainless steel producer purchased 3 truckloads of molybdenum oxide briquettes yesterday totaling about 75 tonnes. On DDP basis, one truck traded at $33.65/lb Mo, while the other two traded at $33.80/lb Mo each. The lowest-priced lot was supplied by an international trader and nets back to about $33.20/lb Mo after freight and other charges. Market sources said this lot may be Armenian-origin, although this remains unconfirmed. The other two trucks were supplied by major international molybdenum suppliers. Market feedback suggests that news of the lower-priced overseas deal may have contributed to the sharp weakening in China’s market sentiment this afternoon, with ferromolybdenum transactions falling from about RMB345,000/tonne yesterday to RMB341,000/tonne.