Virus thwarts expected tantalum price recovery

摘要

The expected trajectory of the global tantalum price recovery was interrupted early this year as a slowdown in demand and consumption offset the effect of supply disruptions and low inventory levels, an Argus analysis shows. Prices for tantalite with 25pc Ta2O5 content, a main source of tantalum, rebounded from historical lows in the middle of last year, rising by 5pc since the start of this year as the inventory overhang started to ease. Tantalum is a critical material used high-performance capacitors, superalloys and other applications in the aerospace, military and consumer electronics industries.