TANTALUM (Data in thousand kilograms of tantalum content, unless noted) Domestic Production and Use: There has been no significant tantalum-mining industry since 1959, with the exception of small unreported quantities of tantalum-bearing concentrates produced in 1989-92. Most metal, alloys, and compounds were produced by four companies; tantalum units were obtained from imported concentrates and metal, and from foreign and domestic scrap. Tantalum was consumed mostly in the form of metal powder, ingot, fabricated forms, compounds, and alloys. The major end use for tantalum was in the production of electronic components, about 60%, mainly tantalum capacitors. The value of tantalum consumed in 1995 was estimated at about $160 million. Salient Statistics--United States: 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995e/ Production, mine (1/) (1/) -- -- -- Imports for consumption, concentrate, tin slags, and other2/ NA NA NA NA NA Exports, concentrate, metal, alloys, waste, and scrape 180 150 170 190 200 Consumption: Reported, raw material NA NA NA NA NA Apparent 370 375 410 430 470 Price, tantalite, dollars per pound3/ 30.06 28.19 26.41 26.24 26.90 Stocks, industry, processor, yearend NA NA NA NA NA Employment, processor NA NA NA NA NA Net import reliance4/ as a percent of apparent consumption 86 85 85 80 80 Recycling: Combined prompt industrial and obsolete scrap consumed represented about 20% of apparent consumption. Import Sources (1991-94): Australia, 26%; Germany, 18% (majority of imports of unknown origin); Canada, 6%; Thailand, 6%; and other, 44%. Tariff: Item Number Most favored nation (MFN) Non-MFN5/ 12/31/95 12/31/95 Synthetic tantalum- columbium concentrates 2615.90.3000 Free 30% ad val. Tantalum ores and concentrates 2615.90.6060 Free Free. Tantalum oxide 2825.90.9000 3.7% ad val. 25% ad val. Potassium fluotantalate 2826.90.0000 3.1% ad val. 25% ad val. Tantalum, unwrought: Waste and scrap 8103.10.3000 Free Free. Powders 8103.10.6030 3.5% ad val. 25% ad val. Alloys and metal 8103.10.6090 3.5% ad val. 25% ad val. Tantalum, wrought 8103.90.0000 5.3% ad val. 45% ad val. Depletion Allowance: 22% (Domestic), 14% (Foreign). Government Stockpile: The uncommitted inventories shown below include a negligible quantity in nonstockpile-grade metal and 456,000 kilograms in nonstockpile-grade minerals. The stockpile also contained 86,000 kilograms in tantalum metal ingots and 74,000 kilograms in both minerals and tantalum oxide with status (inventory) not yet determined. Stockpile Status--9-30-95 Uncommitted Committed Authorized Disposals Material inventory inventory for disposal Jan.-Sept. 95 Tantalum: Carbide powder 13 -- -- -- Metal 159 -- -- -- Minerals 1,130 -- -- -- Prepared by Larry D. Cunningham, (703) 648-4977. TANTALUM Events, Trends, and Issues: Overall consumption of tantalum continued to improve. U.S. sales of tantalum capacitors for the first one-half-year increased by more than 40% compared with that of the similar period in 1994. For the same period, imports for consumption of tantalum mineral concentrates decreased by about 15%. Industry sources indicated that recycled and secondary materials were getting more attention as a source of tantalum supply. Recycled and secondary tantalum-bearing materials reportedly accounts for an estimated 25% of total western world tantalum supply. The published spot price for tantalite ore, which began the year at a range of $25.50 to $27.00 per pound of contained pentoxide, rose to $26.50 to $27.80 in early July where it remained through mid-October. Industry sources indicated that tantalum mill products sold at an average of about $170 per pound, and that tantalum capacitor-grade powder sold at an average of about $150 per pound. It is estimated that in 1996 domestic mine production will be zero and U.S. apparent consumption will be less than 500,000 kilograms. World Mine Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base: Mine productione/ 6/ Reservese/ 7/ Reserve basee/ 7/ 1994 1995 United States -- -- -- Negligible Australia 238 250 4,500 9,100 Brazil 50 50 900 1,400 Canada 28 30 1,800 2,300 Malaysia -- -- 900 1,800 Nigeria 2 2 3,200 4,500 Rwanda 2 2 NA NA Thailand -- -- 7,300 9,100 Zaire 1 2 1,800 4,500 Zimbabwe 2 2 NA NA Other countries8/ 2 2 1,400 1,800 World total (may be rounded) 325 340 22,000 35,000 World Resources: Most of the world's resources of tantalum occur outside the United States. On a worldwide basis, identified resources of tantalum are considered adequate to meet projected needs. These resources are largely in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, and Zaire. The United States has about 1.4 million kilograms of tantalum resources in identified deposits, most of which were considered uneconomic at 1995 prices. Substitutes: The following materials can be substituted for tantalum, but usually with less effectiveness: columbium in superalloys and carbides; aluminum and ceramics in electronic capacitors; glass, titanium, zirconium, columbium, and platinum in corrosion-resistant equipment; and tungsten, rhenium, molybdenum, iridium, hafnium, and columbium in high-temperature applications. e/Estimated. NA Not available. 1/A small unreported quantity was produced. 2/Metal, alloys, synthetic concentrates; exclusive of waste and scrap. 3/Average value, contained tantalum pentoxides, 60% basis. 4/Defined as imports - exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock changes. 5/See Appendix B. 6/Excludes production of tantalum contained in tin slags. 7/See Appendix C for definitions. 8/Excludes any production from Bolivia, China, and countries in the Former Soviet Union. Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 1996