Fly Ash Prices: In the second quarter of 2023 | ChemAnalyst

 

 

The Fly Ash market in the United States experienced a decrease in prices during the second quarter of 2023. This decline was mainly attributed to reduced demand from downstream construction industries, which were wrestled with a shortage of labor and the US bank crises after the failure of Silvergate Bank, Signature Bank, and Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). It disrupted the availability of financing and lending options for construction projects. Construction companies often rely on banks and financial institutions to secure loans and credit lines to fund their projects. SVB’s failure led to reduced available credit or tighter lending standards; the construction industry faced challenges in securing the necessary capital for their projects, potentially leading to delays or cancellations of the demand for construction products. The decrease in demand for construction products had a direct impact on Fly Ash prices. In April 2023, product prices were stable at USD 93/MT, primarily due to a balanced gap between demand and supply. However, in May and June, the value of Fly Ash experienced respective declines of approximately 2% and 1%. During the final two months of Q2 2023, the Bearish Market situation was primarily influenced by the smooth and cost-effective importation of Fly Ash from overseas. These imports further influenced the prevailing price trends.

 

 

 

In the second quarter of 2023, the Asian market experienced a mixed sentiment in the price of Fly Ash. In China, the price of Fly Ash also declined, with decreases of around 8% and 8.7% in May and June, respectively. These declines were influenced by an approximately 13% and 4% decrease in the price of feedstock Coal in the Chinese market. Furthermore, in April 2023, the price of Fly Ash increased by approximately 8.7% due to an improvement in demand from the construction sector and an increased price of coal, which rose by 1% during that month of the quarter. However, in the Indian market, the price of Fly Ash increased by around 6% and 2% in the initial two months of the second quarter. The demand from the domestic market improved during this period as the government focused on the construction and infrastructure sector, further leading to increased demand for construction goods. In the last month of this quarter, the product price did not change and was stable at USD 52.04/MT, primarily due to the narrow gap between demand and supply.

 

 

In the Q2 of 2023, the European Fly ash market experienced a bearish trend as the price of products declined during this quarter. In Germany, the Fly Ash prices decreased by around -3% in April, May, and June 2023, respectively. Low demand from the downstream construction industry was the prominent factor behind the pricing dynamics in the second quarter of 2023. Furthermore, macroeconomic factors such as high inflation have negatively affected consumer spending, further contributing to the bearish sentiment in the market. The buying momentum from derivative sectors, particularly constructions, and consumer goods, has significantly weakened as many buyers prioritize maintaining minimal inventories and acquiring materials only when necessary. The strike by dock workers at the Port of Hamburg, Germany, is the nation’s busiest and the second busiest in Europe. This strike impacted the export of Fly Ash as Europe imports most of its Fly Ash to the USA and further helped to decline the product’s price in the country.