Moly future prices...China has already done this with antimony but to a greater degree.
Interesting news from kitco.com
Mills to cut spot molybdenum purchases due to China export rule
Tokyo (Platts)--1Jun2007
Steel mills in South Korea and Japan plan to reduce their molybdenum
oxide and ferromoly purchases due to China implementing export regulations on
these products, sources said this week.
The Chinese government on Friday released a list of 30 molybdenum
producers and trading companies to be granted export licenses. Companies
without licenses will not be allowed to export. The government is also
expected to set the volume of molybdenum products allowed to be exported by
each licensed company.
An official in charge of procurement at South Korean steel producer Posco
said he had been prepared for this move.
"There had been rumors on the Chinese government actions. It was
expected. But this means we need to find other sources outside China ... South
America, Chile," the official said.
Posco sources molybdenum products through monthly tenders as well as on
contracts. Monthly tenders involve moly products of 100 mt or more.
Sources at Japanese blast furnace mills said they had increased the ratio
of contract supplies, sourcing more from Chile on annual contracts, and less
from China on spot basis. For January-April 2007, roughly 50% of Japan's
ferromoly imports were from China, mostly on a spot basis, and 30% from Chile,
mostly on contracts. Due to mills' tendencies to rely more on contracts,
market sources generally expect to see a decrease in imports from China, some
even saying that Chile may overtake China as the top ferromoly exporter to
Japan.
Mill sources generally said they expected molybdenum prices to rise on
the back of possible reduction of Chinese exports.
Although i currently dont own unb i figured you boys would like to read this. I meant to get in at .40 a little while back... ooops.
Bdussy