Since we have more eyeballs added each week repeating this post can't hurt:
I've contacted a bunch of Niobium mining companies and asked them about prices etc..here is one response:
Hello XXXX,
Thank you for your email and I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. With regards to your questions about the tantalum and niobium spot prices, the fact that the Tantalum market is driven by secret long term contract makes it extremely difficult to ascertain the actual price of the metal. Because of this lack of transparency, we have been working closely with a gentlemen named Bill Serjak, who has worked for the second largest tantalum processor H.C. Stark doing there demand projections for 35 years. He is regarded as the foremost expert in this field, and the price information he has provided to us is considered the most accurate in the industry. The current price of tantalum being sold by Talison (formally Sons of Gwalia) is $ 60 US per pound.
The Nioibum market is more visible. The current price for Ferro Niobium is $ 26.50 per pound. This is up from its historical price of $ 7.62, at which Commerce has done all of its cost analysis on. If we are able to get one year of production at the current price for Niobium, we would have production costs paid off in a matter of months. The high price for Niobium is being driven by the high price of Vanadium. Niobium is a straight substitute for Vanadium and will continue to be used as such until the prices reach equilibrium.
We also have direct contact to a metals trader out of Brooklyn named Ronald Gilerman. He and his father started A&R Merchants Co. in 1986 and have direct access to the most up to date pricing info. Ronnie has been working with us since Commerce’s inception in 2001.
As for our website, the new site has been designed and we are uploading content as we speak. I would expect to be live by next week.
I thought you might like some of the latest Vanadium news as well! With supply coming mostly from South Africa , it seems likely that high prices for Vanadium will continue. This is very encouraging for the Niobium market
I hope I have been able to shed some light on your concerns. Please feel free to contact me at any time.
All the best,
Kevin Bottomley
Shareholder Services
kevin@commerceresources.com
604 484 2700
