Business activity has been slow in the European market for noble alloys in the middle of April because of the holidays.

Prices for FeTi (70% Ti) have been pressured by end users. Those for UK products have dropped by 3% w-o-w to $5.6-5.7/kg Ti FCA Rotterdam and for Russian products ? by 1.8% to $5.5-5.6/kg Ti FCA Rotterdam duty paid. Demand for FeW (75% W) stays weak, pushing prices down by 1.2% to $44.5-46.75/kg W FCA Rotterdam. A 5-tonne batch has reportedly been sold at $45.75/t W FCA Dusseldorf. Chinese material is offered at $44/kg W CIF Rotterdam.

Quotations of FeV (75-80% V) have advanced to $26.5-27/kg V FCA Rotterdam duty paid (up 1.5%) on the back of short supply. Chinese material is on offer at $26/kg V FCA Rotterdam duty unpaid. A 10-tonne lot has been sold at the bottom end of the range and a 5-tonne lot ? at $27.2/kg V DDP. FeNb (60% Nb) has risen in price once again, this time by 1.4% to $41.7-43/kg Nb FCA Rotterdam, because of insufficient supply.

• [Editor:Mango]