Salient Niobium Statistics

TABLE 1
SALIENT NIOBIUM STATISTICS¹

		2009		2010		2011		2012		2013
United States:
Exports, Nb content²	metric tons	195		281		363		385		435
Imports for consumption:
Mineral concentrates, Nb content	do.	41		5		23		32		75
Niobium metal, gross quantity³	do.	699		1,380		1,460		1,440		1,360
Niobium oxide, Nb content^e	do.	742		824		1,120		1,220		997
Ferroniobium, Nb content^e	do.	2,920		6,280		6,910		7,430		6,140
Reported consumption, Nb content
Raw materials	do.	W		W		W		W		W
Ferroniobium and nickel niobium	do.	4,350		5,590		9,060		7,460	^r	7,500
Apparent consumption, Nb content	do.	4,210		8,210		9,160		9,730		8,140
Value:⁴
Niobium ores and concentrates (gross quantity)	dollars per kilogram	59.86		19.84		39.34		23.54		16.96
Niobium oxide (gross quantity)	do.	27.30		30.32		37.69		44.43		43.47
Ferroniobium (gross quantity)	do.	23.59		24.01		26.43		27.63		27.29
World, production of niobium-tantalum concentrates, Nb content	metric tons	67,000	^r	49,100	^r	50,300	^r	62,700	^r	57,300	^e
^eEstimated.^rRevised. do. Ditto. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data.
¹Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits, except values.
²Includes natural and synthetic niobium ore and concentrates, niobium oxide, niobium ferroalloy, and unwrought niobium metal and alloys.
³Includes niobium and articles made of niobium.
⁴Weighted average value of imported plus exported materials.