<> Silicon Metal = In the Chinese domestic market, the price of low-grade products is going to stop declining, but the price of high-grade products is still continuing to drop. When compared with the end of April, the prices of 3303 and 2202 grades are down by CNY600 per ton and CNY300 - CNY400 per ton respectively. The price of 5.5.3 grade meant for aluminium stopped declining when compared with May 15, but the movement from now onwards is unclear.

In Japan, since the aluminium industry as a main consumer imports on a yen basis, the impact from yen depreciation is heavy and the current trading becomes thin. However, the major aluminium makers will float a tender for June purchase in the last week of May and the first week of June, which is considered to be one of factors for a thin trading because many of small and medium-size makers consider the results of these tenders to be an index. The price of one of the few contracts was up by US$50 per ton although there were many cases where the price was kept as it was when compared with May 15.

<> Ferro-silicon = In China, the sales volume is increasing, and the producers begin to raise its offer price due to the decreased inventory in the market. The price of product with Si being 75% meant for domestic consumption is up mainly by CNY 200 - CNY300 per ton from May 15. Albeit it becomes difficult to procure spot goods, the customers show reluctance to accept an price hike, and the increase in the contract price remains at a small range.

Also in the Japanese domestic market, the offer price of regularly-exported products of Chinese origin is raised, but the contract price of regularly-exported products is down by US$10 - US$20 per ton from May 15 because of currently lowered price of products distributed in the market.

The price of products distributed in the market was down as aforementioned. This was because the inflow volume into Japan decreased in the former half of May but made a recovery in the latter half, and the price was down by US$20 - US$30 from May 15.

On the one hand, both offer and contract prices for Russian products dropped together by US$10 per ton.

<> Silico Manganese = The producers in India raised its offer price also for 6517 product for export by around US$20 per ton because the price of 6014 product for domestic consumption went up. The major resource company's price of manganese ore meant for China to be shipped in June remained unchanged from the prior month, which also became a factor for price hike for producers, for which the customers in Japan show reluctance to accept a price hike, and there has been no change in the contract price since May 15.

The price in the Chinese domestic market remains unchanged from May 15, and there has been no particular contract with regard to the export to Japan. 

• [Editor:Sophie]