DLA March sales slide with LC FeCr, W

The Defense Logistics Agency's (DLA) sales fell by 17pc in March as greater volumes of high-carbon ferro-chrome failed to offset lower tungsten and low-carbon ferro-chrome volumes.

The US defense department's procurement arm sold $6.13mn worth of high-carbon ferro-chrome and tungsten ores in March, down from $7.4mn in the same year earlier period.

The agency sold 1,500 short tons (st) of high-carbon ferro-chrome, rising from 1,000st in the year prior. Glencore and Veritas Alloys & Metals purchased the alloy volumes for $1.9mn, which compares to $2.1mn in sales split between the high-carbon alloy and 145st of low-carbon ferro-chrome a year earlier.

Sales of tungsten ores and concentrates were down by 8pc to 317,000lbs by content from 345,000lbs a year earlier. Buffalo Tungsten, Global Tungsten, and Wogen concluded the purchases for a total of $4.23mn, declining from $5.3mn a year earlier.

Over the first quarter, the DLA sold no low-carbon ferro-chrome or chrome metal, down from 291st and 13st, respectively, a year earlier. High-carbon ferro-chrome sales rose to 3,000st from 2,000st. Sales of tungsten ores and concentrates fell by 14pc to 832,000lbs.