Tungsten oxide market is expected to grow in a moderate way in 2018-2019, led by the Asia Pacific market, particularly China which accounted for majority of consumption in 2013. Major manufacturers of tungsten compounds are relocating their production facilities to China due to availability of cheap labor, infrastructure and attractive government policies. Republic of Korea, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka are other major consumers of tungsten oxide in Asia Pacific. North America and Europe are mature markets.

Analysis of latest tungsten market in China from Chinatungsten Online: Opening this week, tungsten raw material enterprises are waiting for higher market prices, price in China maintains stability, and some quotations edger higher. Downstream manufacturers still have not high enthusiasm in purchasing, some of them stocking up on rigid demand. The whole tungsten market is continuing the weak demand and tight supply.

Rare earth market quotation: Chinese rare earth price continues to be stable owing to the quiet market trading. On the one hand, affected by the good expectation on policy and market demand, sellers are reluctant to sell; on the other hand, downstream enterprises are gradually finishing the target for stocking, so their interest in purchasing weakens. Under the deadlocked purchase and sale, short-term rare earth price is expected to stabilize.

The trading in the raw material market is expected to reduce as downstream smelting factories, molybdenum chemical and products enterprises are gradually finishing their stocking. The short supply in the molybdenum concentrate market is continuing. Meanwhile, due to high international molybdenum raw material price, Chinese enterprises turn to domestic market, which is good for the mentality of miners. Chinatungsten Online forecasts that molybdenum price is expected to stabilize before the Chinese Spring Festival.

Analysis of latest tungsten market in China from Chinatungsten Online: The whole Chinese tungsten market remained tepid last week amid the price stabilized and tungsten enterprises have low willingness in trading. Most transactions now mainly come from the trading market and this period is considered as a proper time for enterprises to stock up due to the stability of tungsten price.

Rare earth market quotation: the latest price of terbium oxide, europium oxide and cerium oxide remains stable. with the approaching of Chinese Spring Festival, the production line and expresses are greatly influenced. Although downstream enterprises become active in enquiry and have strong willingness in stocking up, market trading is thin on the whole. Coupled with the quiet policy from the government, rare earth market in China is caught in wait-and-see atmosphere.

This week, tight supply of molybdenum raw materials may continue in China and outside China, and manufacturers will maintain good mentality. Though downstream enterprises have no plan for purchasing raw material, production companies would not reduce product prices. 

Tungsten price remains the same price as the previous trading day, but market trading reduces. Most tungsten enterprises are not interested in participating in the market at the end of the January while part of trading companies replenishes their inventories.

Rare earth market quotation: rare earth price in China is unchanged from the previous trading day as the market trading is quiet and businesses are showing cautiousness. Buyers remain rigid demand while sellers are positive about the influence of environmental protection and market demand. Under the deadlocked supply and demand, short-term rare earth price will continue to maintain current trend.

In Chinese molybdenum market, raw material supply is still tight, operating rate of mines is hard to increase in the short term and some trading companies who have strong willingness in shipments basically finish their annual sell target. As a result, molybdenum concentrate goods are limited at present. Steel biddings performing poorly weakens ferro molybdenum enterprises’ confidence and thus buy orders decrease.