DLA offers sixth tender for tungsten ore

The US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) today began its sixth sales tender for tungsten ore and concentrates in 2018 with bids due by the following day.

The DLA, the procurement arm of the US Defense Department, is offering seven lots of tungsten ores and concentrates all of which are located at its Scotia, New York, facility. This is up from the five lots offered in late-June.

The combined bulk weight of the lots was up by 39pc to 587,469lbs from the previous offering. The tender contains 313,774lbs of tungsten by weight, up from 230,862lbs.

The DLA offered two lots of scheelite and four lots of wolframite of unknown origin as well as one lot of Spanish wolframite.

The DLA held 11 solicitations for tungsten ores and concentrates in 2017, selling 3.45mn lbs of tungsten ores by content. Sales of tungsten ores declined by 29pc to 1.52mn lbs in the first half of 2018 from the prior year period.