COLUMBIUM (NIOBIUM) (Data in thousand kilograms of columbium content, unless noted) Domestic Production and Use: There has been no significant columbium-mining industry since 1959, with the exception of small unreported quantities of columbium-bearing concentrates produced in 1989-92. Most metal, ferrocolumbium, other alloys, and compounds were produced by six companies with seven plants. Feed for these plants included imported concentrates, columbium oxide, and ferrocolumbium. Consumption was mainly as ferrocolumbium by the steel industry and as columbium alloys and metal by the aerospace industry, with plants in the Eastern and Midwestern United States, California, and Washington. The estimated value of reported columbium consumption, in the form of ferrocolumbium and nickel columbium, in 1995 was about $56 million. Major end-use distribution of reported columbium consumption was as follows: high-strength low-alloy steels, 38%; carbon steels, 30%; superalloys, 18%; stainless and heat-resisting steels, 13%; and other, 1%. Salient Statistics--United States: 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995e/ Production, mine (1/) (1/) -- -- -- Imports for consumption: Concentrates, tin slags, and other2/ NA NA NA NA NA Ferrocolumbiume/ 2,130 2,450 2,190 2,590 3,000 Exports, concentrate, metal, alloys, waste, and scrape/ 270 350 300 320 400 Consumption, reported: Raw material NA NA NA NA NA Ferrocolumbiume/ 3/ 2,410 2,470 2,470 2,750 2,830 Consumption, apparent 3,310 3,500 3,500 3,700 3,900 Price: Columbite, dollars per pound4/ 2.83 2.83 2.67 2.60 2.90 Pyrochlore, dollars per pound5/ 2.75 2.75 2.75 NA NA Stocks, industry, processor and consumer, yearend NA NA NA NA NA Employment, processor NA NA NA NA NA Net import reliance6/ as a percent of apparent consumption 100 100 100 100 100 Recycling: Insignificant. Import Sources (1991-94): Brazil, 65%; Canada, 25%; Germany, 4%; and other, 6%. Tariff: Item Number Most favored nation (MFN) Non-MFN7/ 12/31/95 12/31/95 Columbium ores and concentrates 2615.90.6030 Free Free. Columbium oxide 2825.90.1500 3.7% ad val. 25% ad val. Ferrocolumbium 7202.93.0000 5.0% ad val. 25% ad val. Columbium, unwrought: Waste and scrap 8112.91.0500 Free Free. Alloys, metal, and powders 8112.91.4000 4.9% ad val. 25% ad val. Columbium, wrought 8112.99.0000 5.2% ad val. 45% ad val. Depletion Allowance: 22% (Domestic), 14% (Foreign). Government Stockpile: The uncommitted inventories shown below include 341,000 kilograms in nonstockpile-grade concentrates and 151,000 kilograms in nonstockpile-grade ferrocolumbium; and 50,000 kilograms in concentrates, 113,000 kilograms in ferrocolumbium, and 54,000 kilograms in columbium metal ingots with status (inventory) not yet determined. Stockpile Status--9-30-95 Uncommitted Committed Authorized Disposals Material inventory inventory for disposal Jan.-Sept. 95 Columbium: Carbide powder 10 -- -- -- Concentrates 831 -- -- -- Ferrocolumbium 535 -- -- -- Metal 54 -- -- -- Prepared by Larry D. Cunningham, (703) 648-4977. COLUMBIUM (NIOBIUM) Events, Trends, and Issues: For the first one-half-year, overall reported consumption of columbium increased by about 10% compared with that of the previous year. Consumption of columbium by the steelmaking sector rose by about 6%, influenced by a 7% increase in raw steel production. Additionally, demand for columbium in superalloys was up significantly, affected by an improving aerospace market. For the same period, overall columbium imports were down slightly. Brazil was the leading supplier, providing more than 60% of total imports. In mid-October, the published price for columbite ore was quoted at a range of $2.80 to $3.20 per pound of contained columbium and tantalum pentoxides. The published price for steelmaking-grade ferrocolumbium was quoted at $6.58 per pound of contained columbium, and for high-purity ferrocolumbium and nickel columbium at $18.50 and $20.50 per pound of contained columbium, respectively. The published price for columbium oxide was quoted at $8.17 per pound of oxide, and the published price for columbium metal was quoted at a range of $30 to $50 per pound. It is estimated that in 1996 domestic columbium mine production will be zero and U.S. apparent consumption will be about 4 million kilograms. The majority of total U.S. demand will be mainly supplied by columbium imports in upgraded forms. World Mine Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base: Mine production Reservese/ 8/ Reserve basee/ 8/ 1994 1995e/ United States -- -- -- Negligible Australia 81 90 NA NA Brazil 12,700 11,000 3,300,000 3,600,000 Canada 2,320 2,400 140,000 410,000 Nigeria 17 20 64,000 91,000 Rwanda 3 3 NA NA Zaire 1 5 32,000 91,000 Zimbabwe 1 1 NA NA Other countries9/ -- 1 6,000 9,000 World total (rounded) 15,200 13,500 3,500,000 4,200,000 World Resources: Most of the world's identified resources of columbium are outside the United States and occur mainly as pyrochlore in carbonatite deposits. On a worldwide basis, resources are more than adequate to supply projected needs. The United States has approximately 360 million kilograms of columbium resources in identified deposits, most of which were considered uneconomic at 1995 prices for columbium. Substitutes: The following materials can be substituted for columbium, but a performance or cost penalty may ensue: vanadium and molybdenum as alloying elements in high-strength low-alloy steels; tantalum and titanium as alloying elements in stainless and high-strength steels and superalloys; and molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, and ceramics in high-temperature applications. e/Estimated. NA Not available. 1/A small unreported quantity was produced. 2/Metal, alloys, synthetic concentrates, and columbium oxide. 3/Includes nickel columbium and a small quantity of other columbium materials. 4/Average value, contained pentoxides for material having a Cb2O5 to Ta2O5 ratio of 10 to 1. 5/Average value, contained pentoxide. 6/Defined as imports - exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock changes. 7/See Appendix B. 8/See Appendix C for definitions. 9/Excludes any production from Bolivia, China, and countries in the Former Soviet Union. Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 1996