Tantalite market softens with consumers lowering their buying interest
2012-06-15 09:15:33 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 15 Jun 12 – According to the market participants both home and abroad, Chinese tantalite import market softens with the slow downstream demand from both the electronic and cemented carbide industries. In addition, the prices also see a slight fall by about USD2-4/lb CIF China. However, for the tantalum concentrate (Ta2O5 30%), the prices are still at USD96-98/lb CIF China.
According to one trader from Shenzhen, who has two containers of tantalite will get arrived at Chinese port at the end of this month, shared with Asian Metal that at present, domestic tantalite import market is not as active as that of last month and consumers now show less interest in purchasing due to the dim demand of the end-products. According to the source, the prices for tantalum concentrate are still USD98/lb CIF China, for some high-grade materials, the prices would be USD2-4/lb higher.
The source said that this batch of materials is from African and the documents are not wholly prepared, so he is a little worried for the sales. “I think a favorable price is still important for domestic processors as domestic plants are now in low operation for the time being,” said the source, who holds low expectation for the future market of tantalite.
An Ethiopia-based trader with a monthly dealing volume of about 5t also confirmed with Asian Metal that the Chinese tantalite market softens with domestic consumers showing less interest in replenishing stocks at the moment. According to the source, the prices in Africa are about USD80-85/lb, while the export prices are about USD95-98/lb, almost unchanged with the prices two weeks ago. The source also revealed that demand of conflict free materials are still popular in the international market.
The source, who is the only trader in Ethiopia who is dealing export business for the moment, said he has concluded one deal of 5t with a Chinese processor in the South and their prices were about USD100/lb CIF China.
According to one trader from Shenzhen, who has two containers of tantalite will get arrived at Chinese port at the end of this month, shared with Asian Metal that at present, domestic tantalite import market is not as active as that of last month and consumers now show less interest in purchasing due to the dim demand of the end-products. According to the source, the prices for tantalum concentrate are still USD98/lb CIF China, for some high-grade materials, the prices would be USD2-4/lb higher.
The source said that this batch of materials is from African and the documents are not wholly prepared, so he is a little worried for the sales. “I think a favorable price is still important for domestic processors as domestic plants are now in low operation for the time being,” said the source, who holds low expectation for the future market of tantalite.
An Ethiopia-based trader with a monthly dealing volume of about 5t also confirmed with Asian Metal that the Chinese tantalite market softens with domestic consumers showing less interest in replenishing stocks at the moment. According to the source, the prices in Africa are about USD80-85/lb, while the export prices are about USD95-98/lb, almost unchanged with the prices two weeks ago. The source also revealed that demand of conflict free materials are still popular in the international market.
The source, who is the only trader in Ethiopia who is dealing export business for the moment, said he has concluded one deal of 5t with a Chinese processor in the South and their prices were about USD100/lb CIF China.
Tantalum Conc. Ta2O5 30%min in warehouse Rotterdam
Unit:USD/lb Ta2O5
China tantalum oxide producers' operating rate statistics by province by month
Unit: %
