[SMM Analysis] Tantalum Prices Rebound on Positive News & Drained Low-Cost Inventory

Recently, the tantalum market reached an inflection point, with prices successfully hitting bottom and stabilizing before embarking on a rebound, and the industry's upward trend gradually becoming clear. Currently, low-priced supplies within the industry chain are being cleared at an accelerated pace, quotations for all product categories are rising in tandem, and the overall market is steadily improving. Current mainstream quotations: tantalum ore CIF China (Ta≥30%) quoted at 220-225 $/lb, up 11.25% MoM; 99.5% tantalum pentoxide quoted at 4,500-4,600 yuan/kg, up 7.25% MoM; 99.95% grade tantalum ingot quoted at 6,600-6,800 yuan/kg, up 10.84% MoM.

Raw material side, previously affected by cautious end-user procurement and sluggish market transactions, the tantalum ore market remained in the doldrums, with prices fluctuating downward along with the overall industry chain trend, and actual low-end transactions in China once fell to $160/lb. As news related to market procurement and stockpiling was released, industry stockpiling demand was unleashed, accumulated low-priced inventory in the market was rapidly digested, and tantalum ore prices bottomed out accordingly, with the highest quotations reaching $240/lb.

Processed products side, driven by favorable news such as procurement and stockpiling, some smelters tightened their shipments pace and suspended external quotations. Available low-priced supplies in the market were essentially exhausted, and bullish sentiment among traders and suppliers continued to intensify. Combined with the steady rise in upstream tantalum ore raw material costs providing strong support, tantalum pentoxide and tantalum ingot market prices are expected to continue their steady upward trend going forward.