TEX reported that Brazil's exports of ferroniobium in May 2012 were 6,824 tonnes (weight of the material), up by 10.8% MoM from April 2012, meaning increase of 2 months in a row. The month's level was the highest since April 2011 (7,694 tonnes).

Breakdown by destination was:

China: 1,935 tonnes (up 2.1 times from April)
Netherlands: 1,909 tonnes (up 34.0% MoM)
Singapore: 929 tonnes (down by 32.8% MoM)
USA: 950 tonnes (down 40.1% MoM)
Japan: 710 tonnes (up 2.2 times)
Canada: 85 tonnes (down by 30.0% MoM)

The volume shipped to China in May 2012 was the highest since November 2009 (2,317 tonnes). Netherlands recovered from the drop in April 2012. Exports to Japan in May 2012 were the highest since January 2012.

Averaged unit price of the month's exports was USD 25,631 per tonne, down 3.0% from US$26,421 per tonne in April.

Exports from Brazil of all the ferroalloys including manganese group ferroalloys during the first five months (January to May) of 2012 were 202,332 tonnes (up 28.8% from the same period of 2011) comprising:

High carbon ferromanganese: 5,774 tonnes (up 93.1% YoY)
Ferrosilicon (Si>55%): 67,619 tonnes (up 17.8% YoY)
Silicomanganese: 30,893 tonnes (up 6.4% YoY)
High carbon ferrochrome: 1,308 tonnes (down by 78.8% YoY)
Low carbon ferrochrome: 2,758 tonnes (up 45.1% YoY)
Ferronickel: 44,612 tonnes (up 32.2 times)
Ferroniobium 28,791 tonnes (down 11.6% YoY)

Source - TEX Report Limited

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