Boosted by tungsten concentrate auction deals, the market enters a consolidation phase at lows.
[Tungsten Express] SMM, July 16: Tungsten concentrates held steady today. Yesterday, auctions of tungsten ore at mines in Yunnan and Hunan were all successfully concluded, with high-grade 50% ore from a mine sold at over 400,000 yuan per standard tonne (65%WO3 basis), boosting market confidence. As the tungsten market fell steadily for a month, supplier inventories were gradually destocked. Some suppliers, bullish on the outlook, largely suspended shipments, making it harder for downstream buyers to push for lower prices and edging the bargaining center slightly higher. Currently, 55% tungsten concentrates were traded at 380,000-405,000 yuan per standard tonne (65%WO3 basis). A small number of smelters restocked on a need-to basis at low prices. In the short term, the market has entered a phase of consolidation with seesaw movements at lows.