Tungsten Concentrate Prices Are Expected to Stabilize in China

Analysis of latest tungsten market from Chinatungsten Online

Tungsten concentrate and ammonium paratungstate tungsten carbide bars (APT) prices in China are expected to stabilize because market participants believe there is little room for price falls after witnessing steady declines in recent weeks.

Miners are reluctant to sell at current prices because they are already below their costs of production and participants therefore expect the concentrates price to remain within the current range in a slow market.

Large-scale tungsten companies usually prioritize the solid tungsten carbide rods supply of raw materials (concentrates) to their own subsidiary refineries, leaving limited volumes available for the wider market. Meanwhile, small- and medium-sized miners are choosing to sit on the sidelines and wait for the price to improve before supplying the market.

In terms of demand, participants said they expect the market would be in a lull for the rest of April after several APT refineries, which are maintaining operations to fulfill long-term contracts, stocked up on raw materials in the early stages of the month.

Prices of tungsten products on Apr. 23, 2020

Picture of tungsten powder 

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