It is reported that the price of low carbon ferrochrome to be contracted with regular consumers in Japan for shipments in the second quarter of 2009 is anticipated to fall further. As of the end of last week, leading produces in Russia and Kazakhstan were still not offering their prices of low carbon ferrochrome for April to June quarter but are supposed to start negotiations on this subject from around this week. In view of market prices which are currently prevailing in Europe and China, a price trend will be inevitable to fall further.

According to a forecast compiled and released by the ministry of economy, trade & industry, the demand for low carbon ferrochrome has been based mainly on special steel products and the quantities of special steel products to be produced in Japan for each quarter of the first half of 2009 will be for January to March quarter to estimate 2,657,000 tonnes and for April to June quarter to anticipate 2,815,000 tonnes.

The point, which low carbon ferrochrome has differed from high carbon ferrochrome is steel companies as main consumers of low carbon material and the total quantity of low carbon ferrochrome stocked at steel mills in Japan as of January 31st 2009 came to 8,792 tonnes, which had not so increased in comparison with that at the end of the same month of 2008.

(Sourced from www.texreport.co.jp)