It is reported that the European stainless producers including Acerinox, ThyssenKrupp and Outokumpu have decided to cut the alloy surcharge by 3.5% MoM for May 2012, in response to lower nickel prices.
It is known that that the alloy surcharge from these three stainless producers is at EUR 1,402 to EUR 1,417 per tonne for May 2012 production, lower than EUR 1,454 to EUR 1,468 per tonne for April 2012.
Meanwhile, the nickel prices in three month delivery at LME were traded at USD 17,625 to USD 17,630 per tonne on April 23rd 2012, decreasing from a high of USD 18,455 to USD 18,460 per tonne on April 18th 2012.