Metallurgical grade niobium oxide prices show signs of falling
2012-04-28 08:58:57 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 28 Apr 12 – Sources reported to Asian Metal that the columbite supply in the market is increasing gradually, so it is more and more easy to get niobium concentrate in the import market as long as the consumers would like to purchase. As a result, the prices of metallurgical grade niobium oxide show signs of decreasing. Sources said that offers of average grade niobium oxide are now at RMB370-380/kg (USD59-60/kg), while early this week the prices were still at RMB380/kg (USD60/kg) or higher.
A consumer from South China with a monthly consumption volume of about 6-8tpm shared with Asian Metal that the prices of metallurgical grade niobium oxide are showing signs of falling as some suppliers are now just quoting RMB370-380/kg (USD59-60/kg) due to the increasing supply of columbite in the market. “Most of the suppliers would offer RMB380/kg (USD60/kg) before early this week,” added the source, predicting that the prices of metallurgical grade niobium oxide probably go down slightly.
According to the source, it is not only due to the increasing supply of the columbite, but also the prevailing technology of processing niobium oxide with imported ferroniobium.
A producer also from South China confirmed with Asian Metal the falling signs of metallurgical grade niobium oxide as there are more supply in the market. The source said that if there are buyers coming, he will sell at prices of RMB370/kg (USD59/kg) or even as lower as RMB360/kg (USD57/kg), which is unreasonable before early this week. “There are some columbite suppliers offering to us and they all said that they have materials on hand to sell,” said the source, whose output of niobium oxide is 6-8t per month.
As for the market in the near future, the source also predicts that the metallurgical grade niobium oxide prices will go down slightly. “From the long run, the prices of niobium oxide will be stable,” added the source.
A consumer from South China with a monthly consumption volume of about 6-8tpm shared with Asian Metal that the prices of metallurgical grade niobium oxide are showing signs of falling as some suppliers are now just quoting RMB370-380/kg (USD59-60/kg) due to the increasing supply of columbite in the market. “Most of the suppliers would offer RMB380/kg (USD60/kg) before early this week,” added the source, predicting that the prices of metallurgical grade niobium oxide probably go down slightly.
According to the source, it is not only due to the increasing supply of the columbite, but also the prevailing technology of processing niobium oxide with imported ferroniobium.
A producer also from South China confirmed with Asian Metal the falling signs of metallurgical grade niobium oxide as there are more supply in the market. The source said that if there are buyers coming, he will sell at prices of RMB370/kg (USD59/kg) or even as lower as RMB360/kg (USD57/kg), which is unreasonable before early this week. “There are some columbite suppliers offering to us and they all said that they have materials on hand to sell,” said the source, whose output of niobium oxide is 6-8t per month.
As for the market in the near future, the source also predicts that the metallurgical grade niobium oxide prices will go down slightly. “From the long run, the prices of niobium oxide will be stable,” added the source.
Niobium Pentoxide 99.99%min EXW China
Unit:RMB/kg
China niobium oxide producers' inventory to production ratio statistics by province by month
Unit: %
