Tantalite price decreases in China

With continuously low demand in the spot tantalite market, its price decreases from USD45.00-47.00/lb to USD43.00-45.00/lb, close sources reported to Asian Metal.

"The tantalite price decreases because tantalum product prices fail to rise," said a tantalum oxide producer, who used to purchase one container of tantalite per month.

According to the source, the price of average grade tantalum oxide decreased early this month and other tantalum product prices cannot go up due to relatively stable demand. Therefore, tantalite consumers are unable to accept the high tantalite prices. Besides, supply of the material is sufficient, which, thus, presses the price to go down.

The source confirmed that the anticipated price of tantalite (with 25%min Ta2O5 content) is in a range of USD43.00-45.00/lb, while it was a bit over USD45.00/lb in previous weeks.

A trader revealed that they have difficulties concluding tantalite deals over USD45.00/lb. "Our material has higher contents of tantalum oxide and niobium oxide than normal tantalite and they are both grading around 25%min, but most consumers bid as low as USD44.00-45.00/lb," added the source.

The supplier had thought that the price of tantalite would go above USD50.00/lb, but they found that the market was likely to go down and then decided to sell some inventories.