The delay of the full implementation of the Conflict Minerals Act, while helping to create a more responsible and transparent system, may have harsh consequences for miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Resource Investor reported that H.C. Starck GmbH will purchase tantalum concentrates from Advanced Metallurgical Group (AMS:AMG).
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (AMS:AMG) announced supply agreements with its traditional partners at fixed prices through 2012.
Rising demand for consumer electronics’ will stretch the supply chain of tantalum thin, potentially eliminating stockpiles of the metal. Tantalum is essential for high tech electronics, and prices having been rising on limited supply. Ron MacDonald from Cansource explains how this will effect the market.
The supply of tantalum from non-conflict sources is stretched thin. Prices may rise as increased demand for electronics pushes electronics manufacturing companies' stockpiles to the limit. Tantalum prices have already jumped over the last year, and may continue their rise by 50 percent through 2011 as scrap for the metal is running out.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011