The U.S. tungsten market is showing signs of demand improvement, but spot sales are still few and far between and prices have yet to bounce higher, traders told AMM.

With little business being conducted there is little price transparency, but traders put the ammonium paratungstate (APT) market in a wider range of $160 to $175 per short ton unit (stu) vs. $160 to $170 last month.

Demand is improving, but only slightly, one U.S.-based trader said. "It's still in the doldrums.