Superalloy prices inched up on Thursday despite decreasing LME nickel prices.
The weekly Davis Index for Hastelloy C remained at $5.09/lb for single truckload delivered processor yard and increased for Hastelloy X by 0.2¢/lb to $3.73/lb delivered.
The index for Inconel 600 also grew by 0.1¢/lb to $4.83/lb and was up by 8¢/lb for 601 to $4.03/lb delivered processor yard.
Inconel 617 grew by 0.1¢/lb to $3.73/lb delivered processor yard while Inconel 625 Vac rose by 0.4¢/lb to $4.25/lb delivered. The index for Inconel 718 Vac increase by 0.3¢/lb to $3.48/lb delivered processor yard.
The official LME Nickel cash contract closed Thursday at $15,985/mt, down by $14/mt from $15,999/mt on Mar 18.
LME Nickel prices have fallen by $2,671/mt from $18,655/mt at the beginning of the month but adequate demand from mills ensured that superalloy prices did not decline significantly. However, processors are now seeing a slight drop in mill demand, which along with fluctuating LME Nickel prices has caused near-term uncertainty on superalloy price movements.