Rising tantalum demand prompts production ramp-up in Central Africa

Tantalum concentrate continues to gain price support amid pressing demand for consumer electronics goods and the global extent of shipping delays, which have incentivized primary tantalum producers in Central Africa to raise their output over the past month, Fastmarkets heard on Monday July 5.

Fastmarkets assessed the price of tantalite, basis 25% min Ta2O5, cif China, at $87-90 per lb on June 2, its highest level since Fastmarkets started assessing the price in May 2020, when it was $65-66 per lb. Since the start of this year, the price has increased by 60%.
Demand for high-performance tantalum capacitors - for use in used in electrical circuits in personal computers, cell phones and audio amplifiers, among other devices - continues to boom and inventory levels were reported to be low, especially in the United States.
"There are not enough capacitors in the market," a European trader said. "Remote working [under Covid-19-pandemic conditions] has triggered demand for consumer electronics everywhere, and it will continue to do so."

Orders for superalloys used in jet engine components have also picked up in recent months,...

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