US superalloy prices declined amid a volatile LME Nickel market that increased on Thursday.
The weekly Davis Index for Hastelloy C fell by 9¢/lb to $5.04/lb for single truckload delivered processor yard and decreased for Hastelloy X by 13¢/lb to $3.68/lb delivered.
The index for Inconel 600 also dropped by 24¢/lb to $4.79/lb and was down by 14¢/lb for 601 to $3.90/lb delivered processor yard.
Inconel 617 declined by 3¢/lb to $3.69/lb delivered processor yard while Inconel 625 Vac fell by 13¢/lb to $4.18/lb delivered. The index for Inconel 718 Vac remained unchanged at $3.40/lb delivered processor yard.
The official LME Nickel cash contract closed Thursday at $16,434/mt, up by $290/mt from $16,144/mt on Mar 4.
The volatility in the LME Nickel market this month has caused superalloy prices to fall, though the decline has been restrained by robust demand from stainless steel mills. Processors remain hopeful of a rebound in prices with the LME Nickel market rising gradually over the past couple of days.