Chinese tantalum concentrate import prices firm
2016-03-22 08:59:30 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 22 Mar 16 - With the demand for tantalum products from downstream markets going slowly, Chinese domestic tantalum smelters delayed purchasing tantalum ore. However, most overseas tantalum ore producers refused to sell their stocks at low prices and the mainstream prices of tagged tantalum concentrate 30%min hovered at USD57-59/lb CIF China, unchanged from those of last week.
One consumer from a South China whose purchasing volume is one container per quarter noted to Asian Metal that although the mainstream prices for tagged tantalum concentrate 30%min in the import market remained stable at USD57-59/lb CIF China, the same with those of last week, the trading volume was small in the spot market as most consumers were cautious about rebuilding stocks. "Most of the downstream products market including the optical grade tantalum oxide and the tantalum metal materials faced dim demand as end users hesitated to make deals in bulk," said the source, who is pessimistic about the future market. The plant consumed less than 10t of tantalum ore 30%min in February and held 20t of stocks in hand.
The source also noted that although prices for the tantalum concentrate remain firm, deals do not increase, as the demand from the downstream market shows no signs of recovering.
One tantalum ore importer in South China also confirmed that limited by high production cost, most of the overseas tantalum concentrate suppliers preferred to hold their prices for tantalum concentrate 30%min stable at USD57-59/lb CIF China, unchanged from those of last week. "We sold out one container of low grade tantalum ore 10%min at USD51/lb CIF China in early February and have failed to make deals since then," said the source, revealing that they will import 40t of tantalum ore 10%min in April.
The source also noted that they owned a Ta ore in Nigeria with an output of 100tpm of tantalum ore 10%min. They plan to import tantalum ore instead of tantalum concentrate 30%min to avoid higher production cost in the near future."Most of the tantalum buyers still have some stocks in hand. Currently, the whole market runs slowly, and the consumers are cautious in adding more stocks," said the source.
One consumer from a South China whose purchasing volume is one container per quarter noted to Asian Metal that although the mainstream prices for tagged tantalum concentrate 30%min in the import market remained stable at USD57-59/lb CIF China, the same with those of last week, the trading volume was small in the spot market as most consumers were cautious about rebuilding stocks. "Most of the downstream products market including the optical grade tantalum oxide and the tantalum metal materials faced dim demand as end users hesitated to make deals in bulk," said the source, who is pessimistic about the future market. The plant consumed less than 10t of tantalum ore 30%min in February and held 20t of stocks in hand.
The source also noted that although prices for the tantalum concentrate remain firm, deals do not increase, as the demand from the downstream market shows no signs of recovering.
One tantalum ore importer in South China also confirmed that limited by high production cost, most of the overseas tantalum concentrate suppliers preferred to hold their prices for tantalum concentrate 30%min stable at USD57-59/lb CIF China, unchanged from those of last week. "We sold out one container of low grade tantalum ore 10%min at USD51/lb CIF China in early February and have failed to make deals since then," said the source, revealing that they will import 40t of tantalum ore 10%min in April.
The source also noted that they owned a Ta ore in Nigeria with an output of 100tpm of tantalum ore 10%min. They plan to import tantalum ore instead of tantalum concentrate 30%min to avoid higher production cost in the near future."Most of the tantalum buyers still have some stocks in hand. Currently, the whole market runs slowly, and the consumers are cautious in adding more stocks," said the source.
Tantalum Conc. Ta2O5 30%min CIF China
Unit:USD/lb Ta2O5
China tantalum oxide producers' sales volume statistics by province by month
Unit: mt
