Hard alloy sector to become China's biggest tungsten user

Hard alloy sector's share of China's tungsten consumption is expected to reach 58% in 2010, up from 57% last year, making it the biggest consumer in the country, state-run metals research company Beijing Antaike said an industry forum in Beijing last week.

Based on Antaike's estimates, in 2009, the hard alloy sector consumed 14,504 mt of tungsten. It  forecast tungsten consumption by the local hard alloy sector to grow 8% this year, reaching 15,660 mt, "as we expect national hard alloy output this year to grow 8% from last year," an Antaike source said.

Meanwhile, China's specialty steel sector will be the second-largest tungsten consumer, consuming 5,907 mt in 2010, up from 5,791 mt last year.  This would account for 22% of China's national tungsten consumption this year. Tungsten is mainly used in the steel sector for the production of tools.

Antaike predicted China's national tungsten consumption to hit 27,000 mt in 2010, up 6% from 2009.  This is 37% of the world's total tungsten consumption this year.