Guangzhou China Oct. 29, 2010 - Driven by the growth of cost and demand and influence of weather and international market, bromine price has increased sharply by 58.03%, from USD2459/t in Jan. 2010 to USD3886/t currently.
In the first two months of 2010, the storm surge has taken much damage on bromine production in Weifang Area, Shandong province, but the derivatives manufacturers have kept their production lines operation, which opens the curtain of bromine price rising this year. In addition, the production cost of bromine increases due to the price rising of chlorine and sulfur. The mainstream of bromine price is at USD2562~2592/t.
From March to April, the price escalation of bromine and brominated flame retardants produced by Albemarle and Chemtura and bad weather continue to push the bromine price rising. Chinese bromine market is still characterized by tight supply. In this time, the price of tank-storage and pot-storage bromine increases from USD2855/t to USD2958/t and USD2928/t to USD3045/t respectively in Weifang Area.
With the temperature rising after April, the bromine output starts to increase as well, which contributed to bromine supply so that the bromine price decreased with a small extent during May and June, about USD29~44/t.
The power rationing policies in July and continuous rainfall in August have impacted much on the bromine production in Shandong. Most of bromine manufacturers are forced to suspend production. The bromine storage gradually reduces and many derivatives manufacturers are difficult to purchase enough bromine. Thus, the price has been pushed from USD3451/t in early September to USD3886/t currently.
Source: CCM International