Tungsten market is smooth as the whole. The high price of tungsten concentrate was cutted, less than 1.9 yuan / degrees.

By double effects of short funds and the negative purchase of downstream tungsten smelting factory.
 

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Bloomberg Markets is reporting that BMW, Volkswagen and Ferrari have been using tungsten ore sourced from Colombia's FARC rebel terrorists. The extensive story focuses on Colombia's illegal mining trade and calls into question the provenance of the rare ore that is used not only in crankshaft parts production, but is also found in the world's computing and telecommunications industry for use in screens.

The tungsten ore is mined by the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army), and exported to Pennsylvania, where it is refined. The tungsten ore is then sent over to Austria, where a company called Plansee turns it into a finished product. Now, it's important to note that we aren't talking about the world's supply of tungsten here. In 2012, Plansee's American refinery purchased 93.2 metric tons of tungsten, valued at $1.8 million. That's peanuts, with the entire Colombian tungsten mining industry producing just one percent of the world's supplies.

That doesn't make indirectly supporting FARC any more acceptable, though. BMW, VW and Ferrari are all committed to not accepting mineral supplies from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is also in the grips of a guerrilla insurrection funded, in part, by illegal mining. The same commitment would figure to extend to Colombian mining, but as BMW points out, it's difficult for a multi-national manufacturer to know where every item in its supply chain comes from. A company spokesperson says as much, telling Bloomberg, "These few grams out of the billions of tons of raw materials passing through the BMW supply chain are of no practical relevance."

This response is perhaps somewhat blasé, but BMW, Ferrari and Volkswagen aren't directly negotiating with the FARC rebels, and we'd be stunned if the three manufacturers were even aware of where the tungsten was coming from. By the time it arrives in their respective factories, it's traveled from Colombia, to Pennsylvania to Austria, making for a rather difficult web of countries and networks to track. Even so, with Bloomberg drawing a spotlight on the activities, we're assuming a few phone calls are going to be made.


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Although China produces the most tungsten -- about 85 percent of global output -- authorities there impose tight controls on the metal to assure domestic manufacturers have enough. That’s forcing companies to scour the globe for mines elsewhere, the USGS says.

One company that buys and processes Colombian wolframite, or tungsten ore, supplies some of the world’s leading multinational corporations -- including the makers of BMWs, Ferraris, Porsches and Volkswagens as well as Siemens AG (SIE) and the producer of BIC pens, these companies say.

Apple Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) and Samsung Electronics Co. purchase parts from a firm that buys from the company that imports tungsten ore from Colombia, company records show.

Since 2008, there have been 40 shipments of tungsten ore from Colombia by 14 companies, according to government export documents. Although none of the records from these shipments say the tungsten ore comes from FARC-run Tiger Hill, Colombian authorities are convinced that it does.

Cesar Melendez, the Environment Ministry’s director whose jurisdiction includes much of Colombia’s Amazon region, says the shippers are hiding the tungsten ore’s true origins.


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Downstream customers inactive in purchasing tungsten carbide powder.

The demand from the downstream market keeps weak and the customers are cautious in making deals with watching attitudes.

According to market participants, the metallurgical grade tantalum oxide prices are stable tentatively, but the market sees some lower offers.

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China ammonium paratungstate market (APT  market) sees lower offers.

According to the ammonium paratungstate market (APT  market) participants in China, the ammonium paratungstate prices(APT  prices) are stable this week, and the APT market runs slowly. But owing to the few buying activities, the APT market sees some lower offers.

A source from an APT factory based in South China expressed that the offers for APT are at RMB222,000-224,000t USD411-414mtu in the spot market this week, and the prices keep stable for a while.

You can visit the following links for more information about  ammonium paratungstate prices(APT  prices).

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Ferro-tungsten and ammonium paratungstate (APT) production could move away from China in the long term if tungsten concentrate prices there continue to rise, sources told Metal Bulletin

“In the future, most demand will be covered outside China. The biggest customers in France, Austria and Germany will go elsewhere.” a trader told Metal Bulletin.

“The Chinese will be able to sell less and less on the European platform. It seems the only chance China has is to go more downstream,” he added.

Both ferro-tungsten and APT prices in Europe have risen steadily since the beginning of the year, as concentrate prices in China have soared as high as 158,000 yuan ($25,604) per tonne, from 150,000 yuan per tonne just a month previously.

However, ferro-tungsten prices have begun to lose ground in recent days, down from highs of $50 per kg to a range of $47.50-48.50 per kg, and market participants have suggested APT prices – now at $410-425 per mtu in Europe – could follow suit.

“I’ve spoken to a few partners [in China] and they’re definitely starting to say that if you really want business, you have to look at  the price,” the trader said.

“I’m expecting the price to fall dramatically [after the European summer]. Right now, the demand is low because customers are on holiday until the end of August.”

Concentrate prices are also slightly down in Europe, according to a producer, which could help to stabilise the APT price.

“I’m not sure whether traders want to sell off material. I think some of them are expecting prices to drop, and maybe that’s why concentrate is quite cheap in Europe,” he added.

The tungsten market in general has been quiet, a second trader said, and only small tonnages have been changing hands.

“It’s more 5-10 tonne lots now. People are happy to clear up positions with odd lots,” she said.

Metal Bulletin’s European quotations for ferro-tungsten and APT remained unchanged on Wednesday August 6, at $47.50-48.50 per kg and $410-425 per mtu, respectively.


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H.C. Starck, a leading worldwide manufacturer of technology metals and one of the biggest companies in the global tungsten industry, and Nui Phao Mining Company, a subsidiary of one of Vietnam’s largest private sector business groups, Masan Group Corporation (HOSE: MSN, “Masan Group”), have announced the signing of definitive agreements to establish a joint venture for the production of value-added tungsten chemicals in Vietnam.

Nui Phao and H.C. Starck will own 51% and 49% respectively of the joint venture, which will process all of Nui Phao’s tungsten concentrate into higher value-add tungsten chemicals, including ammonium paratungstate (APT) and blue tungsten oxide (BTO). The joint venture company will have an installed capacity of 6,500 tons tungsten trioxide per annum. H.C. Starck will manage the joint venture and has committed to buy a significant share of the production for its own internal use. The company will also support marketing of the remaining product through the joint venture.

Andreas Meier, President and CEO of H.C. Starck said, “Masan has developed a world-class mining operation and the Nui Phao mine will be a stable source of material for the joint venture. For H.C. Starck this joint venture strengthens our leading position as a global tungsten producer and increases our manufacturing footprint in Asia. Based on the secured supply of tungsten concentrate and our recycling capabilities, we can provide our customers long-term supply security independent from regulatory restrictions and we expect less price volatility for the mineral.”

H.C. Starck has significant experience in the tungsten processing business, which is a niche and technologically intensive industry, and will therefore be responsible for the industrial management of the joint venture.

Dominic Heaton, CEO of Masan Resources, a subsidiary of Masan Group and the parent company of Nui Phao, commented, “H.C Starck has world-class expertise in the processing of tungsten chemicals and oxides. With H.C. Starck’s specialized know-how and technology, Masan Group is able to contribute to Vietnam’s objective of becoming more of a manufacturer of value-added products.”

Madhur Maini, CEO of Masan Group, said: “H.C Starck is the technology leader in the production of several high-technology metals. The partnership with H.C. Starck, one of the world’s largest tungsten players, will help Masan capture more of the tungsten value chain and is a testament to the quality of Nui Phao’s tungsten deposit and processing plant.”

H.C. Starck is a leading global manufacturer for technology metals. Besides being one of the largest global tungsten companies in the world, it also holds top market positions with its tantalum, molybdenum, niobium, and rhenium products. All of these metals require advanced technology and know-how to process.

Nui Phao, the tungsten concentrate supplier of the joint venture, has developed one of the largest known tungsten deposits outside of China with an expected mine life of more than 15 years. The construction of the tungsten chemical plant that will be part of the joint venture is in progress. The first stage of the tungsten chemical plant will start production next month, with further stages expected to be completed in 2014.

Tungsten is one of the hardest metals and has the highest melting point. As a strategic resource, it is used in a variety of applications requiring high strength. APT and BTO are intermediary chemicals used for the production of high speed cutting and drilling tools which are in high demand from growing industries such as mining and mechanical engineering, medical technology, and the automotive and energy industries. APT is also used for catalyst production in the chemical industry. The European Union identified tungsten as one of the critical raw materials that have high strategic value and yet for which there are only limited natural resources.

The establishment of the joint venture and closing of the definitive agreements are subject to customary corporate and regulatory approvals.


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Kanefusa USA and International Knife & Saw (Booth 5053) are introducing a new line of Inlaid tungsten carbide paper knives that it will market in North America under the VITECH TC brand. This innovative design has been in development and testing for more than a decade and currently is being used with great success in the EU as well as in Japan.

This product incorporates a much harder and tougher tungsten carbide cutting edge into a steel body by using proprietary bonding techniques. These techniques minimize stress and distortion on the cutting edge providing the customer with a better cutting tool. This improvement will allow users the opportunity to achieve maximum cutting times and long term use of the knife without the common problems associated with conventional "brazed" tungsten carbide knives. Typical brazed knives experience extreme heat during the bonding process which induces a tremendous amount of stress into the knife. These stresses are compounded during use and the subsequent reconditioning causes bowing and deformation of the knife. The VITECH brand knife does not experience these problems and can be fitted with the highest quality carbide edge that will offer far superior cutting cycles before the need to recondition.


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Indian tungsten market keeps dull.

Indian tungsten market is inactive this week. Owing to the increasing tungsten price in China, many customers are cautious in making deals and mainly consume the rest stocks. An end-user based in India noted that they mainly import tungsten carbide powder from China.

You can visit the following links for more information about  tungsten prices.

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China tungsten bar market sees few deals.

The tungsten bar market runs slowly in China. The market participants are still inactive in making deals, and the market remains quiet for the moment.

However, the raw materials prices move up sharply, and the production cost for tungsten bar suppliers increases accordingly.

You can visit the following links for more information about  tungsten bar prices.

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