Silicon Metal = In China, a lot of low-quality products have been shipped from the producers which restarted operation after the long holidays of China National Day, and the supply pressure has been increasing. This is because the low-quality products which were by-products of the production of high-quality products such as 2202 and 3303 are also shipped as 553 grade. As compared with the end of October, the prices of 2202 and 3303 grades remained unchanged, but the price of 553 grade dropped by CNY200 per ton, and the FOB price for export also dropped by US$30 - US$50.

In Japan, the price negotiation will start soon for the period from January to March in 2015, but some customers have already procured for January and February, and therefore the inquiry is less than the prior quarter. Besides, the trading of spot goods is also thin owing to being worried about the development of the foreign exchange market. In the Japanese market, the CIF price fell by US$30 - US$40 per ton in consequence of the price fall in China as a main producing country.

 Ferro-silicon = The price of 75 % product in China dropped by CNY150 per ton from the end of October. The price of 72% product also dropped by CNY150. Because of two factors such as decreased consumption arising from steel mills' operational restriction which were taking place in the vicinity of Beijing owing to ongoing Beijing APEC and good production of ferro-silicon in the northwestern region, the supply is in excess temporarily. It is understood that the price drop of 72% product whose inventory in the market increased sharply affected the price of 75% product and brought it down together.

As to the products for export, as the main grade is 75% product, the resulting price drop is reduced, and both offer and contract prices meant for Japan are down by around US$10 from the end of October.

On the other hand, the contract price of products distributed in the Japanese domestic market is down by US$20 - US$30. The roundabout product via Vietnam needs more days for shipment although comparatively cheap, whereas the price of existing main cheap products with a small price difference with regularly exported products is apt be affected by the market fluctuation in China.

Russian products are mainly based on a long-term contract, and the trading in the spot market continues to be thin. Following the price drop of other sources, both offer and contract prices dropped by US$10.

<> Silico Manganese = In India, the demand is weak, and the producers lowered its export offer price by US$ 5 - US$10 per ton.

On the other hand, in Japan, the thin trading continues on alert against the development in the foreign exchange market in addition to the stagnating domestic consumption. In the tender recently floated by the electric furnace mill, there was a bid at a low price such as US$1,030 - US$1,040 per ton, which however includes the case that the price of commodity which was procured at the time of yen appreciation was converted based on the current exchange rate. Many of the contract prices for shipments during November to December were down by US$10 from the end of October.

The price of silico manganese in China was down by CNY50 - CNY100 per ton from the end of October. As it is for ferro-silicon, the background for the above is understood to be there was a decreased demand due to Beijing APEC and a part of producers' stock which was accumulated in September in the southern region was sold at a cheap price.

The trading meant for Japan was thin on alert against the fluctuation in the foreign exchange market and there was almost no business.

 Charge Chrome = The negotiation on the benchmark price for the period from January to March in 2015 seems to move into high gear immediately in December. At the moment, several stainless steel mills are curtailing production, and the consumption of charge chrome and high-carbon ferro-chrome is at a low level. As to the spot deal of South African charge chrome meant for Japan, the situation of no deal being struck has still continued.

 Low-carbon Ferro-chrome = Scarcity of domestic goods in the Japanese spot market has still continued, and because of 2 factors such as production capacity of producers and raw material ores, the supply volume has peaked. Because of this, domestic producers seem to raise its offer price.

As to imported goods, there is no big movement in the price at the moment, and the price has continued to remain flat from the end of September.

• [Editor:Sophie]