Analysis of latest tungsten market from Chinatungsten Online

The ferro molybdenum and ammonium metatungstate(APT) prices in China maintain stability because upstream is reluctant to sell at low prices considering the cost and profits while downstream seeks for lower purchase prices with poor confidence for late demand. 

China rare earth prices moved up slightly in the week began on Monday August 2, 2019 owing to tight supply, decreased low price resources and active inquiry of downstream. Most manufacturers are optimistic about the outlook. 

Molybdenum market quotation in China: the latest prices of ferromolybdenum, molybdenum concentrate and molybdenum oxide rise slightly in the week ended on Friday August 2, 2019 thanks to the tightening availability of raw materials and good market confidence. 

US President Trump said through social media on the afternoon of the 1st that the United States will impose a 10% tariff on the $300 billion imported from China from September 1 this year. However, Trump said that he will continue a constructive dialogue with China on a comprehensive trade agreement, and the future of China and the United States will be bright.

US President Trump announced that it will impose a 10% tariff on China’s $300 billion in US exports on September 1 and the Fed’s interest rate cuts are lower than expected. International oil prices maintained their downward trend after the previous trading day in the morning. In the afternoon, the price of oil was plunged because of Trump’s announcement of tariffs.

Trump still said that he is looking forward to continuing dialogue with China on the comprehensive trade agreement. China and the US ended their two-day trade talks in Shanghai on Wednesday. Neither side announced any breakthrough. The Chinese side said the talks were constructive and said that the next round of talks will be held in the United States in September.

After the Federal Reserve cut interest rates, last night US stocks were reliable until the early hours of the morning, and the Dow once rose more than 300 points. However, the good times did not last long, the US stocks quickly dive in the afternoon, and the Dow once fell more than 300 points. At the close of the day, the three major US stock indexes closed down. The Dow fell nearly 300 points, down 1.05%, the Nasdaq fell 0.79%, and the S&P 500 index fell 0.90%.

Previously, Trump included tungsten and molybdenum products in the tariffs imposed in July.

Henan is an important province of tungsten and molybdenum resources in China, and the province aims to take advantages to build a strong non-ferrous metals industry. In 2018, Henan molybdenum concentrate production accounted for 35.53% of the country's total output. The reserves and output of tungsten ore resources are among the best in China.

Analysis of latest tungsten market from Chinatungsten Online

The tungsten powder and ferro tungsten prices in China remained weak adjustment as the demand is difficult to improve in the off season. But supported by tightening availability of raw materials and decreased profits of smelting factories, sellers try to stabilize current offers despite of down stream’s requirement of lower prices and companies’ pressure of price inversion.

The neodymium oxide, praseodymium oxide and cerium oxide prices still maintain stability on weak demand and low trading activity at the end of July. Now most traders take a watchful stance. 

The molybdenum power, molybdenum oxide and molybdenum bar prices are continuing in the upward trend due to the persistent shortage of raw materials and strong rised mentality of traders. 

Recently, foreign media reported that the United States intends to increase the production of rare earth magnets for military weapons through the development and purchase of equipment, and is also looking for better ways to purchase. Why is this happening in the United States? The analysis of foreign experts mainly has the following six reasons:

First, rare earth magnets are essential materials for the manufacture of many military weapons. There has been a research report that at least 36 weapons in the United States use rare earth high-energy magnets imported from China, including the F-35 "Lightning II" fighter, the F-22 Raptor, the DDG-51 destroyer, and Bly. Deli" armored vehicles and AIM-9X "Rattlesnake" missiles and so on. This means that if the United States does not have enough stock of rare earth magnets, defense will be affected.

Second, at present, the consumption of rare earths including rare earth magnets in the United States is highly dependent on China. More than 90% of the world's rare earth permanent magnets supply comes from China, and the United States also needs to import nearly 70% of rare earth magnets from China. For example, a Citigroup report showed that China’s magnet exports totaled $1.7 billion last year, of which $257 million out of US imports totaled $395 million.

Third, the United States does not have enough capacity to manufacture rare earth permanent magnets. For example, a rare earth permanent magnet that can be used to manufacture precision guided missiles, smart bombs, and military aircraft - high temperature, corrosion resistant samarium cobalt rare earth permanent magnets. But China has.

Fourth, China's rare earth processing capacity = 5 times the amount of rare earth processing capacity added in other parts of the world. This means that it will take at least a few years to build a processing plant that is comparable to China's rare earth capacity. Although Japan and Germany are the main magnet factories outside China, the two countries also rely on imports of rare earths from China. Citigroup analysts also pointed out that although there are rare earth mines outside China, processing cannot be separated from China. Of the 50,000 tons of rare earth mines outside China, there are about 41,400 tons associated with China. For some specific rare earth elements, this ratio is even greater. For example, at present, there is no considerable separation capacity outside China to separate the heavy rare earth element lanthanum used to produce magnets.

Fifth, MP Materials, the only rare earth company in the United States, has a Chinese background. A-share listed company Shenghe Resources is a shareholder of MP materials with a shareholding ratio of 9.99%. The point is that even rare earth materials excavated by MP Materials from the mine in California will be sent to China for processing.

Sixth, there are reasons for worry. Based on the above points, the life of the rare earth magnet is not in its own hands. The United States is worried that if China restricts the export of rare earth magnets, some special industries in the United States may fall into the predicament of supply disruption.

In fact, this statement is inappropriate for "China restricts the export of rare earth magnets." Last year, the United States also banned its DoD from buying rare earth magnets from China! Fortunately, the impact on China's rare earth industry is limited. Why, this year's style of painting has changed suddenly! In this regard, this year, we are still generously said: As the world's largest supplier of rare earth materials, China has always adhered to the principle of openness, synergy and sharing to promote the development of the rare earth industry. On the basis of serving domestic needs, we are willing to meet the legitimate needs of countries around the world for rare earth resources. However, if any country wants to use the products made by China's exported rare earths to curb the development of China, it is unacceptable.

The increasing demand for rare metals such as lithium and molybdenum in science and technology industry indicates explosive growth in seabed mining industry in the next few years. On July 18, IUCN added scaly snails to its Red List of Threatened Species - the first to be threatened by deep-sea mining. Marine animals account for only three locations in the western Indian Ocean; these locations include locations identified for mining. According to nature, the state and companies have signed about 1.3 million square kilometers of seabed mining and exploration contracts, which means thousands of marine species, many of which have not even been discovered are facing unprecedented extinction and risk of extinction.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA), which is responsible for deep-sea mining in international waters, also has the right to protect the international seabed. Even if seabed mining norms are expected to be finalized by 2020, they must take into account a number of factors that make deep-sea mining almost unfavorable to the long-term protection of the Earth's interests - concerns that deep-sea mining will release large amounts of carbon deposited in deep-sea sediments and exacerbate the conditions at the forefront of climate change. Marine scientists wrote an open letter to the ISA requesting independent scientists to assess corporate/national proposals and to work closely with intergovernmental organizations that could consider protection issues in advance in negotiations with companies, especially since ISA seemed to give priority to its development role in protection. However, given that the future of the planet is also related to technological development, ISA must achieve a good balance.