Prices pick-up in the New Year

摘要

Molybdenum prices have made healthy gains in the first few weeks of 2003. This is attributable to a continued tightness in supply, combined with the resumption of buying following the seasonally quiet Christmas period, although consumers continue to buy on a hand-to-mouth basis. In Europe, ferromolybdenum prices have increased more strongly than molybdenum oxide, due to tighter availability. FeMo is now fetching around 9.40 dollars/kg to 9.60 dollars/kg drummed and delivered, with some quotes at over 9.75 dollars/kg from below 9.00 dollars/kg in December. Oxide prices have also risen significantly to around 3.70 dollars/lb to 3.85 dollars drummed and delivered, up by over 25 cents/lb on last month. In the USA, oxide prices held up higher in Q4 2002, and remained stable in January at around 3.90 dollars/lb.