The sulfate market showed mixed trends in November

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The last edit of this post was made by Zhang Ruqing on 2016-12-2 at 10:14. The price of sulfuric acid in the market showed mixed trends in November. I. Trends in the domestic sulfuric acid market According to data from Business Society, the prices of sulfuric acid in China remained relatively stable throughout November. The average transaction price for sulfuric acid in that month was 322.50 yuan per ton, representing a total increase of 0.78% compared to the previous month. However, this figure was still 14.81% lower than the prices from the same period last year. 　　II. Domestic market analysis Products: In November, there were significant regional differences in the sulfate market trends, with factory prices for sulfate rising in the south and falling in the north ； Manufacturers in the Shandong region are operating normally; there is an ample supply of sulfuric acid. Demand from downstream industries remains moderate, orders for sulfuric acid from manufacturers are low, and the overall market condition is weak ； In Anhui, Jiangsu, and Guangdong provinces, due to unstable operations of manufacturers’ production facilities, limited sulfuric acid inventory, and steady purchasing demand from downstream industries, manufacturers have raised the price of sulfuric acid by 30–70 yuan per ton. This month, the overall operating rate of sulfuric acid production facilities among domestic manufacturers remained around 60%. In the southern regions, due to factors such as environmental regulations and production cuts, some manufacturers raised the prices of sulfuric acid. In the northern regions, weaker demand from downstream industries led to a relatively weak market price for sulfuric acid. 　　Industry chain: This month, the domestic sulfur market saw modest fluctuations. At the beginning of the month, sulfur prices rose sharply as some intermediaries were eager to sell their stock, after which prices gradually declined. At present, inventory levels at the major domestic ports are low, trading activity in these ports is moderate, and the pace of product sales in the market is somewhat slow ； The production facilities of phosphatic ammonium manufacturers downstream remain operating at low levels, and domestic prices for phosphatic ammonium fertilizers are staying weak; there is a lack of positive news to guide market trends, so the outlook for the future remains uncertain. 　　Industry: In November, the price of sulfuric acid varied. The operating rate of production facilities of domestic sulfuric acid manufacturers remained around 60%; demand from downstream industries was limited, leading to slow sales, with most transactions being conducted through contracts ； Affected by the production cuts in Anhui and Jiangsu provinces, manufacturers have raised the prices of sulfuric acid. Currently, the price of sulfuric acid used in smelting is around 200–280 yuan per ton, while 98% sulfuric acid is traded at 320–430 yuan per ton. Demand for sulfuric acid in these regions remains stable, and manufacturers are able to sell their products relatively smoothly ； The sulfuric acid market in Shandong region is generally weak, with prices falling by 10–20 yuan per ton. Currently, the prevailing negotiation price for 98% mineral-sourced sulfuric acid is between 180–280 yuan per ton ； 98% sulfuric acid is traded at 300-360 yuan/ton ； In the northwestern region, due to weather conditions and transportation issues, it is difficult for manufacturers to ship their products, resulting in a stable but weak price level for acid values. 　　III. Market Outlook and Predictions Analysts in the sulfuric acid sector believe that sulfuric acid manufacturers are operating their plants at reduced capacity; as a result, there is an ample supply of sulfuric acid in the market. Downstream phosphatic ammonium fertilizer manufacturers are also operating at limited capacity, resulting in limited purchasing demand. The winter storage policy is advancing slowly, and the sulfuric acid market is expected to remain in a state of narrow-range consolidation in December.