Average Cost of Niobium 2011

The average cost of niobium in 2011 is $25 per pound. The prices are expected to hold steady around $25 to $30 during the first quarter of 2011.Since there is no niobium mining industry in the US as the resources available are of low grade, it imports its requirements from Brazil and Canada. Brazil is the leading producer of niobium and ferro niobium, an alloy of niobium and iron. Mined exclusively by targeted operations, niobium is used in various superconductivity materials. Niobium or Columbium is a chemical element with atomic number 41. It is a rare, soft, grey, ductile transition metal that is mostly used in alloys.