Tantalum Market Update (January 10, 2013)

The tantalum market was relatively quiet through December. The minor metal capped off 2012 trading in the $520 to $540/kg range on the European market. Tantalite prices also stabilized as the year wound to a close, according to Metal-Pages. Ta2O5 traded around $125 to $130/lb.

Imports of tantalum-niobium from China increased year-on-year to 9,236 tonnes in the first 11 months of 2012. Prices for the concentrates were down overall for the same period in 2011, averaging $19,117 per tonne.