Tightening  supplies  of  high-carbon ferrochrome in south China, as well as high run rates at 

Chinese  stainless  steel  plants  have  pushed  up  spot import  prices, market  sources  said 

Friday. 

Ferrochrome  output  in Sichuan and Guizhou provinces  has stayed low after the Lunar New 

Year holidays due to higher costs of power and chromite feedstock, sources said. 

The  decrease  in ferrochrome production, rather  than  causing chromite feedstock prices to 

fall, gave support to ferrochrome import prices, sources said. 

Producers  in northeast  China  were  not ramping up output to cover for the output cuts, and 

major  Chinese  stainless  steelmakers  who  were  maintaining high run rates, were forced to 

turn to ferrochrome imports. 

Several  Chinese stainless  steelmakers  with  over 1 million  mt/year  capacities were seeking 

spot  imports  of  several  thousand tons for March-May loading, from  India, the  Middle  East 

and South Africa, buyer and seller sources said. 

S&P  Global  Platts  assessed  the  spot price  of 58-60% high-carbon  ferrochrome at $1.09-

$1.11/lb CIF China Friday, up from $1.07-$1.09/lb CIF China a week ago. 

Three  deals  were reported at $1.10/lb  CIF China  for over 10,000 mt  in total of 10-150 mm 

lumps of  minimum  58%  chrome, 3-4%  silicon, 8-9% carbon, 0.03-0.04%  phosphorous and 

0.05% sulfur material for March-April loading. 

Chinese buyers  have  bid $1.04-$1.07/lb  CIF China, while  the  highest offer was at $1.11/lb 

CIF China, sources said. 

Although  two  Indian  producers  have  sold   out  their March production, producers said the 

market appeared to have enough supply and price rise was moderate this week. 

One  producer said  his production cost  was $1.10/lb  CIF but he was open to sales at below 

$1.10/lb CIF China to a few customers. 

One Chinese steelmaker, however, has  booked  for  May at $1.10-$1.15/lb  CIF China, as th

e mill had supply concerns, a Chinese buyer said. 

48-52% charge  chrome  was  assessed  at $1.10-$1.16/lb CIF China  Friday, up from $1.10-

$1.15/lb CIF a week ago. 

Offer was at $1.16/lb CIF, said the Chinese buyer.