Market outlook for niobium

SFA’s Niobium 2030 Market Outlook report keeps you informed of the rapidly evolving niobium market, equipping you with a competitive edge through in-depth market intelligence and ferroniobium price forecasts. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of niobium market trends, tailored to meet individual client strategic requirements and equip you with the insights needed to navigate market volatility and secure long-term supply covering:

Niobium demand impacts and new market threats:

• Near-term macroeconomic factors shaping niobium supply and demand, including technological advancements and industrial growth across key regions (global, N. America, Europe, Japan, China and the Rest of the World).

• Rising niobium demand in infrastructure, aerospace, and clean energy highlights its unmatched strength, corrosion resistance, and superconductivity amid supply challenges and the need for advanced materials.

• Niobium’s growing role in next-generation battery technologies, particularly in solid-state and fast-charging lithium-ion batteries.

• Increasing use in renewables, defence, space, e-mobility, UAVs, robotics, and 3D printing, reinforcing niobium’s strategic importance, highlighting its versatility and strategic importance.

• Ferroniobium price trends influenced by global steel demand, supply chain risks, and material substitution pressures.

• Competitive risks from vanadium substitution in high-strength steels and alloys, influenced by evolving cost structures and supply constraints.

• Global trade flows and supply chain dependencies, examining China’s influence and the competitive positioning of Brazil, Canada, and other key producers.

• Short-term supply-demand scenarios evaluating ferroniobium price trends in response to technological adoption, policy shifts, and market disruptions.
  
  

Niobium supply and production impacts:

• Overview of major industry players and market developments, discussing key producers such as CBMM, CMOC, and Magris Performance Materials. Includes ownership history, deposit extraction, mine lifespan, processing capabilities, product availability, and market influence.

• Resources and reserves: Evaluation of global niobium reserves, focusing on dominant deposits in Brazil (Araxá, Catalão-II), Canada (St-Honoré), and other emerging sources.

• Ferroniobium production: Assessment of ferroniobium alloy production from pyrochlore, its role in the steel industry, and supply chain stability.

• Market concentration and supply risks: Analysis of niobium’s highly concentrated reserves, highlighting resource constraints and long-term supply security concerns.

• A high-level overview of global niobium projects with future extraction potential, assessing deposit grades, production volumes, investment challenges, and risks that could influence SFA’s market balance and ferroniobium price forecasts through 2030.

Niobium price forecasts and market scenarios:

• A niobium supply and demand outlook identifying key market pressures and potential constraints.

  Ferroniobium price forecasts through 2030, factoring in supply risks, technological advancements, material substitution, and geopolitical dynamics.

Who should read this report?

• All industry stakeholders and new business entrants who need to keep abreast of the evolving influences on the niobium market and niobium prices, including end-users, mining companies and juniors. 

• Investors and financial institutions needing to understand and quantify the risks and opportunities in the industry, future costs of niobium production and short- to long-term niobium prices.

Live Q&A with the analysts

• Our niobium market report is supported by a video call, most often hosted through MS Teams, which is led by Beresford Clarke, along with our team of expert  analysts, to run through the 2030 Niobium Market Report, and address any further questions your team may have.