Niobium concentrate prices show signs of rebounding
2013-01-07 08:56:28 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 7 Jan 13 – According to Chinese market participants, although the downstream niobium products demand does not get strong these days, prices for niobium concentrate are firm and plants in domestic market reveal that they cannot make procurement of niobium concentrate at prices lower than USD18/lb CIF China. However, the prices one month before are about USD17-18/lb and at this price level, they can get materials.
One consumers from domestic market with an output of about 3-5tpm of metallurgical grade niobium oxide reported that these days their received offers for niobium concentrate are as high as USD19-20/lb and there are even suppliers quoting to him higher than USD20/lb CIF China. But they do not accept. According to the source, currently, the dealing prices are USD18-19/lb in Chinese import market.
“We still sell niobium oxide both for metallurgical grade and optical grade regularly, mainly to the foreign market,” said the source, revealing that he thinks that it is neither easy for them to get niobium raw materials.
Another processor from domestic market also confirmed that the prices for niobium concentrate show uprising signs currently although the downstream products demand does not show better signs. According to the source, the niobium concentrate supply does not seem as ample as that of before the New Year begins. “We still have products in hand, so we welcome the prices go up,” said the source.
Commenting on the future market, the source, with an output of about 3-5t per month of metallurgical grade niobium oxide, said that the prices will not go up continuously nor sharply in a short term as there is little support for the price rising.
One consumers from domestic market with an output of about 3-5tpm of metallurgical grade niobium oxide reported that these days their received offers for niobium concentrate are as high as USD19-20/lb and there are even suppliers quoting to him higher than USD20/lb CIF China. But they do not accept. According to the source, currently, the dealing prices are USD18-19/lb in Chinese import market.
“We still sell niobium oxide both for metallurgical grade and optical grade regularly, mainly to the foreign market,” said the source, revealing that he thinks that it is neither easy for them to get niobium raw materials.
Another processor from domestic market also confirmed that the prices for niobium concentrate show uprising signs currently although the downstream products demand does not show better signs. According to the source, the niobium concentrate supply does not seem as ample as that of before the New Year begins. “We still have products in hand, so we welcome the prices go up,” said the source.
Commenting on the future market, the source, with an output of about 3-5t per month of metallurgical grade niobium oxide, said that the prices will not go up continuously nor sharply in a short term as there is little support for the price rising.
Niobium Conc. Nb2O5 50%min, Ta2O5 5%min, CIF China
Unit:USD/lb Oxides
China niobium oxide producers' sales to production ratio statistics by province by month
Unit: %
