Here is some further comment" Vanadium prices rise following...

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Vanadium prices rise following December pullback

• Ferro-vanadium prices rose 2.8% last week to US$76.4-79.5/kgV in Western Europe according to Fastmarkets MB.

• Prices also rose in China by 1.8% to US$69-72/kgV.

• Ferro-vanadium prices also rose in the US by 0.6% to US$41.5-46/lbV2O5.

• The move indicates a general pick up in vanadium prices following the price pullback in December.  

• ‘European vanadium prices began to bounce back in the week ended Friday January 4 amid renewed supply tightness and increased buying interest, while Chinese export prices stalled on a lack of trading activity. Meanwhile, despite thin numbers of inquiries from the overseas market, Chinese exporters held their offer prices relatively stable because they noticed that the domestic market was showing the potential for a round of price rises in the near future.’ (FastmarketsMB).

• News reports indicate that some Chinese steel producers have avoided adding required vanadium into their steel for rebar production and are still using Quench and Temper ‘Q&T’ processes for hardening steel.

• We do not expect the Chinese inspectors / authorities to tolerate the production of substandard ‘Q&T’ steel as it is brittle and prone to structural failure.