Fused and dead burned magnesia prices in China have risen in late May/early June due to a shortage of export licences. An announcement from the China Chamber of Commerce, Minerals, Metals and Chemicals Import & Export (CCCMC) about the new quota and bidding round is anticipated towards the end of June. This means that new allocations of material should be in the marketplace in mid July. The total magnesia quota (for caustic calcined, dead burned and fused magnesia) is predicted to be 530,000 tonnes for the second half of the year.
New licences could ease some of the upward pressure on prices next month for both fused and dead burned magnesia. The shortage in supply for export has seen 90% MgO DBM prices increase from $320-350/tonne in mid May to as high as $470/tonne, with prices ranging between $390-470/tonne.
Fused magnesia prices are also higher this...