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This market research report forecasts global consumption of capacitor grade tantalum metal powder in capacitor anodes between 2007 and 2011. The study also looks at tantalum wire markets and revisits the tantalum ore supply chain in order to forecast raw material costs as the competitive landscape changes. WHY THIS REPORT IS IMPORTANT: This report is important because it is being released at a time when there is a substantial amount of uncertainty with respect to the future cost structure of the tantalum supply chain. The study also addresses trends in tantalum ore mining, and forecasts changing prices and availability for ore in 2007 and 2008 and its potential impact on the supply chain. The study also addresses key developments in the supply chain, with emphasis upon the idling of Greenbushes, the re-organization of Gwalia, the exhaustion of tantalum minerals at the DLA, the sale of H.C. Starck by Bayer, the consolidation of EPCOS Tantalum by Kemet, and the movement away from fixed, price, fixed volume contracts. METHODOLOGY EMPLOYED: For volume forecasts of tantalum metal powder, the methodology employed forecasts global shifts in anode production by case size over the next five years. Powder growth is determined based upon the tantalum metal content in milligrams per anode. In terms of shifts in value over the next five years, Paumanok forecasts the average price per pound for capacitor grade tantalum metal powder based upon the projected movement to higher CV/g powders for anode production. Tantalum wire consumption in anodes is also explored, as is the cost of ores and concentrates to the powder vendors. The availability and price per pound for ore over the next five years is also discussed. SCOPE OF THE REPORT: The primary focus of this report is capacitor grade tantalum metal powder, however, other important markets addressed in this report include o Capacitor Grade Tantalum Metal Powder o Tantalum Wire o Tantalum Ores and Concentrates o Ultra-Small Case Size Tantalum Chip Capacitors o Conductive Polymer Capacitors SOURCES: Multiple primary sources in the tantalum supply chain have contributed to this report on a global basis, including manufacturers of engineered powder and wire; tantalum miners; and tantalum capacitor manufacturers.  ISBN # 0-929717-81-3 (2007).

This study addresses the global market for tantalum ore, otherwise referred to as “Coltan”; and its engineered form- capacitor grade tantalum metal powder and capacitor grade wire, which is consumed in tantalum anodes globally. This study offers a detailed assessment including all relative values, volumes and pricing (historical and forward looking). Competitive environment, consumption by case size; movement toward polymer cathode and much more. Companies such as Sons Of Gwalia, HC Starck, Cabot, Ningxia Non-Ferrous Metals and many other vendors of both ores and concentrates; and engineered powder and wire. Watch for more products in this sector in 3Q 2006 as we combine our polymer and manganese cathode research with our new 2006 estimates for powder and wire. ISBN # 0-929717-81-3 (2005)