HC Deb 20 January 1981 vol 997 cc126-7W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the major producing countries of the following metals: tantalum, tungsten, niobium and vanadium, production of each metal by each of the countries in 1979 and the percentage the total figure represented of world sales.

Mr. MacGregor

The output of tantalum, tungsten, niobium and vanadium in 1979 by the major producing countries and the percentage this represented of total world production is as follows:

Country Tonnes % of World Total
Tantalum
(Gross weight) Thailand 410 37%
Malaysia 200 18%
USSR 140 13%
Canada 130 12%
Total 880 80%
Tungsten
(Metal content) China 11,500 26%
USSR 8,700 19%
Australia 3,140 7%
USA 2,994 7%
Total 26,334 59%
Niobium
(Gross weight) Brazil 22,100 78%
Canada 5,130 18%
Total 27,230 96%
Vanadium
(Metal content) South Africa 13,748 42%
USSR 9,000 27%
USA 5,717 17%
Finland 2,650 8%
Total 31,115 94%

Source: Institute of Geological Sciences