Japan Tantalum Demand Seems Down in 2007

Japan Society of Newer Metals announced on Tuesday Japanese domestic tantalum demand is forecasted to decrease by 3.5% to 385 tonnes per year for powders and compounds and to decrease by 11.5% to 130 tonnes per year for manufactured products in 2007 compared with 2006.Tantalum powder demand is estimated to decrease by 2.5% to 270 tonnes in 2007 from 2006. In 2006 tantalum powder demand was 277 tonnes, which largely exceeded originally expected 235 tonnes because the demand was strong for capacitors.Tantalum compound demand is forecasted to down by 5.7% to 115 tonnes in 2007 from 2006.