• 2024年6月27日
  • Market: Minor Metals, Metals

Tungsten prices are at highs not seen for some time. This short update will help you to understand the fundamental reasons behind these high prices and give you an insight into the near to medium term outlook for the tungsten market.

The insights provided in this 10 minute video are taken from the new edition of Argus Tungsten Analytics service, presented by Mark Seddon, Principal Consultant.

The video update explores:

• Tungsten prices are at 6-year highs, principally affected by near-term supply issues in China
• Demand for tungsten is generally muted, especially in Europe, but the defence sector is driving demand given the current geo-political issues in eastern Europe and the Middle East
• The medium-term supply picture is likely to be boosted by new projects coming on-stream in 2H 2024 and 2025

Related news

News
25/05/20

GFG puts Australian Mn plant on care and maintenance

GFG puts Australian Mn plant on care and maintenance

Sydney, 20 May (Argus) — UK-owned steelmaker GFG Alliances has placed its Liberty Bell Bay manganese alloy smelter in Tasmania into care and maintenance over manganese ore supply issues, Tasmanian minister for business, industry and resources Eric Abetz said on 19 May. GFG is committed to the long term success of the Liberty Bell smelter and expects the pause to be temporary, a company spokesperson told Argus on 20 May. The Tasmanian state government is working with GFG and the Australian federal government to address challenges at the plant. It has also asked prime minister Anthony Albanese to support Liberty Bell, state premier Jeremy Rockcliff said on 20 May. Liberty Bell Bay is Australia's only ferroalloy plant and is permitted to produce a combined total of 290,000 t/yr of ferromanganese and silicomanganese. GFG sources Liberty Bell Bay's manganese ore from Australian metal producer South32's Australian Gemco mine and South African sites, which have faced recent production disruptions because of bad weather and maintenance shutdowns. Cyclone Megan flooded and damaged parts of Gemco in March 2024, taking it off line for four months. South32 closed the mine again in January-March 2025 to complete mine dewatering work. South32 also cut manganese production at its South African operations by 10pc on the year in January-March because of scheduled maintenance work and an unplanned shutdown at its Wessels mine. Gemco's manganese production is forecast to reach approximately 5mn t in the 2025-26 financial year ending 30 June, the Northern Territory state government said in a budget announcement. South32 has not released its Gemco production guidance for 2025-26. Liberty Bell Bay's production pause comes after the South Australian state government placed GFG's 1.2mn t/yr Whyalla steelworks into administration in February. The state government later announced plans to transfer control of the Whyalla port from GFG to the steelwork's administrators. Liberty Bell Bay is one of only six facilities in Tasmania covered under Australia's federal safeguard mechanism. It received 8,762 safeguard mechanism credits (SMCs) for the July 2023-June 2024 compliance year as its covered scope 1 emissions of 196,125t of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) were below its baseline of 204,887t of CO2e. Two facilities operated by GFG — the Whyalla steelworks and the Middleback Range iron ore mine — ended the compliance year in an excess emissions situation because they were in administration, according to the Clean Energy Regulator (CER). By Avinash Govind and Juan Weik Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

China's CATL raises $4.6bn from Hong Kong IPO


25/05/20
News
25/05/20

China's CATL raises $4.6bn from Hong Kong IPO

Beijing, 20 May (Argus) — China's largest battery producer CATL has raised $4.6bn from the sale of 135.6mn of its shares on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange today. This is likely to be the world's largest initial public offering (IPO) in 2025. CATL's shares hit a high of HK$299.80 ($38.40) in the morning trading session, up by 14pc from its listing price of HK$263. CATL's Hong Kong IPO is expected to enhance its international brand influence and finance its expansions in the global battery market, according to industry participants. CATL is not only a battery component manufacturer and system solution provider, but also aims to be a pioneer of the global zero-carbon economy, said company chairman Zeng Yuqun at the listing ceremony. The world's total investments in vehicle electrification will hit $3 trillion by 2030, and more than $10 trillion will be invested in renewable energy by 2050, according to CATL. CATL's electric vehicle battery installations rose by 40pc on the year to 84.9 GWh in January-March, accounting for 38pc of the world's total installations, data from South Korean market intelligence firm SNE Research show. Its total battery capacity is projected to reach 700-1,000 GWh/yr in 2025, making it the world's first TWh-level battery manufacturer, according to market participants. The firm has been accelerating expansions outside China in recent years, with projects in Germany, Hungary, Spain, and Indonesia. The company is also facing geopolitical pressure because of the US' higher tariffs on Chinese battery imports and accusations by some US politicians of having supply chain connections to forced labour. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Lynas produces separated heavy rare earths in Malaysia


25/05/16
News
25/05/16

Lynas produces separated heavy rare earths in Malaysia

Sydney, 16 May (Argus) — Australian mineral firm Lynas Rare Earths has produced separated dysprosium at its Malaysian rare earths plant, becoming the first producer of separated heavy rare earths outside China. But Lynas today declined to comment on the volume of dysprosium produced at the plant. The company built dysprosium and terbium processing circuits , capable of separating up to 1,500 t/yr of heavy rare earths, at its Malaysian plant in January-March. It will start producing separated terbium at the site next month. The circuits will allow Lynas to eventually expand its heavy rare earth production line to include separated dysprosium, terbium, and holmium concentrate, as well as unseparated samarium/europium/gadolinium and unseparated mixed heavy rare earths. The company's first production of dysprosium comes less than a month after some Chinese rare earth suppliers limited offers for rare earth minerals , including dysprosium and terbium, in response to the Chinese government tightening export controls. The company produced 1,911t of rare earth oxides in January-March, including 1,509t of NdPr oxide, down by 46pc on the year because of improvement and maintenance works in Malaysia and WA. The company is also developing another rare earth plant in Texas with US government support . The plant will produce separated heavy and light rare earths. By Avinash Govind Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Sherritt 1Q nickel, cobalt production dips


25/05/15
News
25/05/15

Sherritt 1Q nickel, cobalt production dips

Houston, 15 May (Argus) — Canadian miner Sherritt International said it produced less nickel and cobalt in the first quarter from a year earlier but expects to boost production in the second half of 2025. Sherritt's nickel production dropped by 18pc to 2,947 tonnes (t) and cobalt production decreased by 6pc to 323t from the same quarter last year. In February, the company raised its nickel and cobalt guidance for 2025, which remains unchanged despite lower first quarter production. Operations at the company's Moa nickel and cobalt project in Cuba has faced increased pressure from US sanctions, according to Sherritt chief executive Leon Binedell. Sherritt started the second phase of an expansion project at Moa, which the company expects to ramp-up in the second half of the year to full capacity. The company expects higher average realized cobalt price in the second quarter. In the first quarter, the company's average realized price for nickel rose by 1pc to C$9.98/lb while cobalt fell by 8pc to C$13.29/lb compared to the first quarter of 2024. Sherritt sold 3,439t of nickel in the quarter, down 15pc from a year earlier, while cobalt sales were up 26pc to 456t. Demand drove sales above production volumes, according to the company. Sherritt reported a C$40.6mn loss in the first quarter, slightly down from the C$40.5mn loss in the first quarter of 2024. Revenue rose 33pc to C$38.4mn. By Reagan Patrowicz Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Ferbasa ferro-alloys exports down, domestic sales up


25/05/15
News
25/05/15

Ferbasa ferro-alloys exports down, domestic sales up

London, 15 May (Argus) — Brazilian ferro-alloy producer Ferbasa upped its domestic sales on the year in the first quarter, but exports fell as a result of tariff and logistical challenges. Ferbasa produces high and low-carbon ferro-chrome, ferro-silicon, high-purity ferro-silicon and chromium for the steel industry. Total ferro-alloy sales in the first quarter rose by 10.2pc year on year to 69,563t, supported by restocking in Brazil's steel sector. Sales in Brazil reached 38,682t, up by nearly 30pc. Exporrt sales dropped by 7.3pc on the year to 30,851t, and were down by 20.5pc on the quarter because of tariffs, market uncertainty and logistical challenges. Ferro-silicon market participants are on guard because of US anti-dumping moves and protective tariffs globally, Ferbasa said. The company's total ferro-alloy production fell by 1.3pc year on year to 75,821t in January-March. Production of chromium alloys fell by 1.8pc to 50,372t. Silicon alloy production fell by 0.2pc on the year to 25,491t, but was up by 20pc on the quarter. First-quarter revenue stood at R$549mn ($97.62mn), up by 7.9pc on higher revenues from ferro-alloys and a more favourable dollar exchange rate. The company said ferro-alloy production costs rose in the first quarter, singling out electricity and chrome ore. Ferbasa said ferro-chrome production in China has slowed because of excess supply and low prices. In January, domestic Chinese prices for 50pc high-carbon ferro-chrome fell to a five-year low of $0.77/lb ex-works, Argus data show. But stainless steel production has risen this year, the company said. By Cristina Belda Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.