European columbite and niobium oxide prices face upward pressure
2012-01-12 10:14:19 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 12 Jan 12 - European sources told Asian Metal that the demand for columbite and niobium is good. Prices of columbite are at USD21-23/lb and price of niobium oxide 99.5%min is at USD65/lb. Because of good demand and also restricted supply of niobium, columbite and niobium oxide prices are expected to increase.
A Western Europe based columbite trader, who sources his supply from Africa, informed Asian Metal that they booked a tender for 54 tons of columbite at USD23.60/lb yesterday morning. The trader noted that the columbite market is active because of good demand for niobium.
“There’s strong demand for columbite, especially because the banning of Congo’s tantalite, which has high niobium content. This has caused shortage of niobium supply, so there’s some pressure for columbite prices to go up,” said the source.
A Western Europe based niobium oxide trader quoted the price of niobium oxide 99.5%min at USD65/lb. The trader quoted that the demand for niobium oxide is good from American and European end-users. He anticipated prices of niobium oxide to increase.
“There’s good demand for niobium oxide from European and American end-users, but I don’t know exactly which sector the good demand is coming from,” said the source.
A Western Europe based columbite trader, who sources his supply from Africa, informed Asian Metal that they booked a tender for 54 tons of columbite at USD23.60/lb yesterday morning. The trader noted that the columbite market is active because of good demand for niobium.
“There’s strong demand for columbite, especially because the banning of Congo’s tantalite, which has high niobium content. This has caused shortage of niobium supply, so there’s some pressure for columbite prices to go up,” said the source.
A Western Europe based niobium oxide trader quoted the price of niobium oxide 99.5%min at USD65/lb. The trader quoted that the demand for niobium oxide is good from American and European end-users. He anticipated prices of niobium oxide to increase.
“There’s good demand for niobium oxide from European and American end-users, but I don’t know exactly which sector the good demand is coming from,” said the source.
Niobium Conc. Nb2O5 50%min, Ta2O5 5%min, CIF China
Unit:USD/lb Oxides
China niobium oxide producers' inventory statistics by province by month
Unit: mt
