PRICING NOTICE: Proposal to launch tantalum concentrate pricing

The introduction of a price assessment for tantalite, basis 25% Ta2O5, ex-works China, will expand Fastmarkets’ current price coverage of raw materials.

Tantalum prices have found support in the past two months from supply tightness and concerns about obtaining material during the Covid-19-related lockdown in Rwanda. No tantalum mines have been allowed to operate during the lockdown in the country, which accounts for the majority of global tantalum output.

Buyers have been struggling to find cheap prompt units due to the increased levels of concern about the future availability of material. Tantalum prices were now at their highest level since the beginning of the year.

Meanwhile, demand for tantalum was likely to continue to rise, with the electrification of homes and the increasing adoption of IoT and 5G communications technologies expected to boost the appetite for the metal.

Tantalum is mainly used in high-performance capacitors, superalloys, aerospace components, and military and consumer electronics.

The proposed specifications for the new price assessment are listed in full below:

Assessment: Tantalite, basis 25% Ta2O5, ex-works China
Quality: Lump 0-10mm grain concentrate; Ta2O5 25% min; Nb2O5 15% min; U3O8+ThO2 0.10% max
Quantity: Minimum 10-tonne lots
Location: main port China
Unit: USD per lb Ta2O5
Payment terms: Provisional payment against scan copy of the full set of documents, balance upon finalization or DP or provisional payment after arrival at destination port, balance upon finalization; other payment terms normalized.
Publication: Weekly; Fridays between 2pm and 3pm London time.

The consultation period for this price proposal will end one month from the date of this pricing notice on Monday June 15, 2020. Subject to feedback, the new price will launch on Friday June 19, 2020.

To provide feedback on this proposal, or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter to this price, please contact Ewa Manthey by email at: pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading FAO: Ewa Manthey, re: Tantalum pricing.

To see all Fastmarkets’ pricing methodology and specifications documents, go to: https://www.metalbulletin.com/prices/pricing-methodology.html