Soaring LME nickel prices dampen consumer interest in moly

London Metal Exchange nickel settlement levels hitting $27,725/mt on Wednesday has dampened Japanese consumer interest in molybdenum products, market sources said Thursday.

Spot trade into Japan typically thins in the first quarter of the year ahead of the end of the Japanese financial year in March. A handful of trading houses were still expecting spot demand for March consumption among steel mills, but high nickel prices cooled such interest, local trade sources said.

One Chinese trader has indicated possible sales, not a firm offer, at $17.20-17.30/lb CIF Japan to a Tokyo trader, which was lower than offer levels above $17.50/lb in-warehouse Rotterdam for European buyers.

Spot molybdenum would not attract interest as consumers perceive current prices as too high. The boost in prices of molybdenum as well as nickel contracts on the London Metal Exchange may have been triggered by strong oil prices due to the unrest in Egypt, Tokyo traders said.

As nickel-containing stainless steel prices are pegged to LME nickel prices, the mills are wary that the rise in LME nickel levels may dampen sales of stainless steel in coming months, one Tokyo trader added.

A second Tokyo trader said his customer was more focused on sourcing stainless steel scrap, and molybdenum had become a secondary issue.

"There is some interest among Asian buyers for Japanese scrap, among those who see LME nickel prices rising further," said the third trader. The Japanese mills may be competing with overseas buyers over stainless scrap, if LME nickel continued to gain. Prices of stainless steel scrap, like stainless steel products, are often pegged to LME nickel prices.

Scrap 18-8 grade (18% chrome, 8% nickel) stainless steel prices have gained 10% in the past month to trade at around Yen 200 ($2.50)/kg delivered this week, local traders said.