Industrial Minerals


Zircon prices slide further

13 January 2010


Zircon continues to soften, but relatively high price drives search for substitutes

Keywords: zircon, ceramics, refractories, opacifier, substitution

Zircon prices, for both premium and standard grades, are still softening as the global economic crisis continues to hit many of its consumer industries, particularly in Europe and North America.

 

Prices for premium grade zircon started 2009 at $1,000-1,050/tonne and slipped back in May to $925-950/tonne, and then to $900-950/tonne, all FOB Australia. This was after climbing steadily for the previous 12-to-18 months.