News

[SMM Express] Research on Rwandan tantalum concentrate market indicates that most concentrate transactions are negotiated on a spot basis, with prices typically determined by buyer demand rather than long-term supply agreements. According to market participants, contract prices are frequently renegotiated after delivery to reflect prevailing market conditions, highlighting the short-term nature of the country's tantalum concentrate trade. Findings also show that 22–30% Ta₂O₅ concentrates are among the most actively traded grades and that Chinese smelters remain the primary buyers of Rwandan material. Market prices are reported to fluctuate mainly in response to demand for concentrate and the quantity of material available for sale. Weak demand, lower prices and limited working capital are noted to be among the main challenges facing the sector. These market observations suggest that Rwanda's tantalum concentrate trade continues to be influenced by downstream purchasing activity in China, with spot market dynamics remaining the principal driver of pricing and trading activity.

[SMM Express] Free on Board (FOB) remains the predominant pricing basis for Nigerian columbite-tantalite (coltan) concentrate exports, with most shipments priced at major export terminals including Onne Port in Rivers State and Apapa Port in Lagos. FOB pricing is widely used in transactions between Nigerian exporters and international buyers as it provides a transparent basis for valuing concentrates before freight and insurance costs are added. Market participants indicate that sales to Chinese trading companies and processors are frequently negotiated on a Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) basis for delivery to China, with the corresponding FOB value derived after deducting ocean freight and marine insurance costs. Meanwhile, smaller domestic and regional transactions may be concluded on Ex Works (EXW) or truck-delivered-to-port terms before cargoes enter formal export channels. The continued dominance of FOB pricing reflects established international trade practices for critical mineral concentrates and facilitates price benchmarking across global tantalum markets. As demand for transparent and traceable supply chains increases, standardised pricing mechanisms are expected to remain important in supporting efficient trade and market confidence.

[SMM Express] China continues to dominate the export market for Nigerian tantalum concentrates, accounting for an estimated 80%–90% of formal export volumes. Most shipments are purchased by Chinese trading companies and processors, with downstream refining concentrated in major processing hubs such as Jiangxi, Fujian and Guangdong. Europe remains an important secondary destination, with tantalum concentrates supplied to processors and commodity traders serving markets in Germany, Estonia, Belgium and the Netherlands. Smaller volumes are also routed through trading hubs in Malaysia and Singapore before entering downstream supply chains, while interest from the United States is increasing as efforts to diversify critical mineral supply chains continue. A notable share of Nigerian columbite-tantalite production is also understood to move through informal cross-border trade routes before entering formal international markets. These unofficial flows make it more challenging to accurately monitor export volumes, pricing and end-market destinations, highlighting the importance of improved supply chain transparency in the global tantalum market.

[SMM Express] Nigeria's recent columbite-tantalite (coltan) market has been primarily supplied by artisanal and small-scale mining operations, with 20–30% Ta₂O₅ concentrates accounting for the largest share of production and trade. Higher-grade concentrates containing 30–40% Ta₂O₅ are produced through basic beneficiation and generally command premium prices, while 40%+ Ta₂O₅ material remains relatively limited but is highly valued by downstream processors. Market observations indicate that buyers, particularly tantalum processors, generally prefer concentrates containing 30% Ta₂O₅ or higher, as these reduce processing costs and improve refining efficiency. Material grading below 25% Ta₂O₅ typically trades at a discount owing to the additional upgrading required before refining. Nigerian coltan is commonly produced as a mixed columbite-tantalite concentrate, containing both tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅) and niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅). The relative proportions vary by mining area, with some deposits yielding niobium-rich concentrates while others contain higher tantalum content.

[SMM Express] Energy Transition Minerals (ETM) has completed the acquisition of the Penouta tin-tantalum-niobium mine in north-west Spain, marking a significant step towards expanding Europe's domestic supply of critical minerals. Following the acquisition, the company is progressing a new exploitation concession required to restart mining operations. Supporting environmental, rehabilitation and operational studies are expected to be completed between late 2026 and the first half of 2027 as part of the regulatory approval process. The Penouta project is one of Europe's few advanced tin, tantalum and niobium assets and is expected to strengthen regional supply chains for strategic minerals used in electronics, renewable energy technologies and advanced manufacturing. The acquisition also reflects growing efforts to diversify critical mineral supply away from traditional producing regions and improve supply security within Europe. Subject to regulatory approvals, the project could contribute to increasing European production of tantalum and niobium while supporting broader initiatives to develop resilient and sustainable critical mineral value chains.

[SMM Express] Mining sectors across Central and East Africa are facing a changing operating environment as governments increase focus on resource nationalism, local content requirements and domestic mineral processing. Countries across the region are seeking to capture more value from their mineral resources by encouraging in-country beneficiation and strengthening state participation. Policies in Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia and Ethiopia highlight a broader shift away from exporting raw materials towards developing local processing capacity. The region remains critical to global mineral supply chains, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) dominating cobalt exports, the Central African Copperbelt supporting major copper production and significant deposits of lithium, tantalum, niobium, tungsten and graphite found across several countries. However, mining investment continues to face challenges including security risks, regulatory uncertainty, infrastructure limitations and operational constraints. Several countries are also expanding strategic mineral classifications, which could lead to tighter export controls, increased royalties and greater government involvement.

[Tungsten Express] SMM June 12 News: The Kafang Branch of Yunnan Tin Co., Ltd. will sell two lots of ore through price negotiation on June 17, 2026. Lot 1: Scheelite concentrates with physical content of approximately 34 mt, grade of 50%, and tungsten metal of 17 mt (subject to final actual delivery quantity); sale time: 14:00, June 17, 2026. Lot 2: Coarse tin concentrate with dry weight of approximately 130 mt, tin grade of 2.3%, tungsten grade of 24%, total metal content of 34.19 mt (of which tin 2.99 mt, tungsten 31.2 mt, subject to final actual delivery quantity), and the pricing elements are tungsten trioxide and tin. Both lots are quoted at a tax-inclusive unit price per metal tonne (tax rate 13%). Price negotiation requires at least three qualified clients. The outcome will be subject to the Kafang Branch’s decision through a deliberation meeting.

SMM News, May 28: According to recent market reports, prices of high-purity gallium (6N and above) in the European market have surged sharply recently, with spot trading prices standing at around $2,350 per kilogram. A senior insider in the gallium industry stated in an interview that the bulk spot transaction price of 6N high-purity gallium exported by their company has exceeded $2,300 per kilogram. This clearly reflects the acute shortage of high-purity gallium supply across overseas markets.