By Alison Saxby, senior consultant, Roskill Information Services
From levels of $65-85/tonne ten years ago, Chinese refractory bauxite is now priced five times higher, at $500/tonne FOB China or over, for many grades. Chinese prices lead the way and dominate the marketplace, and will continue to do so.
International prices have been increasing gradually since 2004. Then prices for refractory grade material were around $90/tonne, which had increased to $150/tonne by 2007. By 2008 they rose further, not only on scarcity of supply but also...