Tantalum Price
Strategic Metal
Critical for capacitors in microelectronics (~60% of demand) and superalloy components. Mined primarily from columbite-tantalite (coltan); 80% of coltan comes from Central Africa. Conflict mineral designation under Dodd-Frank Section 1502.
Last update: 2026-03-15
2 records
2 records
Retail Reference
$2800/kg
Metal 99.9% (3N)
· 100 g
Metallium / Element Collectors
· US
· 2026-03-15
Retail Premium: 10.0×
Bulk Benchmark
$280/kg
Metal 99.95%
Mining.com / LME benchmark
· 2026-03-15
Applications
| Application | Role | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Tantalum capacitors | Sintered Ta powder anodes with Ta2O5 dielectric | ~40% of Ta demand. Smartphones, defence electronics, automotive ECUs — Ta caps offer high volumetric capacitance and stability over MLCCs. |
| Sputtering targets | Ta and Ta–N diffusion barriers in IC interconnects | Standard barrier between Cu interconnect and dielectric in advanced CMOS nodes |
| Superalloys | Ta in single-crystal Ni superalloy turbine blades | Strengthens γ′ precipitates; high-pressure turbine blades in jet engines |
| Chemical equipment | Ta-clad reactors, heat exchangers, pipe fittings | Outstanding corrosion resistance to acids; pharmaceutical and specialty-chemical reactors |
| Medical implants | Ta orthopaedic implants and cranial mesh | Biocompatible; trabecular metal hip and knee implants |
Market & Supply
Global mine production
~2,000 t Ta/year [3]
DRC + Rwanda share
~50% (artisanal coltan)
Other producers
Brazil, Australia, Nigeria, Ethiopia
Conflict-mineral status
3TG (Dodd–Frank, EU CMR)
Export control
Not on MOFCOM list
Ta concentrate
$160–$200/kg Ta2O5
Capacitor-grade powder
$400–$700/kg
Ta metal retail
$300–$1,500/kg
Verified Offers
Tantalum is one of the four conflict minerals (3TG: tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold) under Dodd–Frank Section 1502. Responsible-sourcing audits (RMI/RMAP) are mandatory for ITRI smelter qualification. The auto-rendered table shows tracked retail listings.
| Date | Form | Purity | USD/kg | Seller | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 | Metal | 99.95% | $280 | Mining.com / LME benchmark | \u2014 |
| 2026-03-15 | Metal | 99.9% (3N) | $2800 | Metallium / Element Collectors | US |
Important Notes
Conflict-mineral compliance
Tantalum is the “Ta” in 3TG. SEC reporting issuers and EU importers must perform supply-chain due diligence under Dodd–Frank 1502 and the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation. Coltan from artisanal mines in eastern DRC dominates the responsible-sourcing conversation.
MLCC substitution capping demand
Multilayer ceramic capacitors (Murata, TDK, Samsung Electro-Mechanics) have eaten into Ta capacitor demand at the high end of consumer electronics over the past decade. Ta caps remain dominant where high reliability and stable capacitance over temperature are required.
Recycling matters
Capacitor scrap and IC sputtering target offcuts are major secondary Ta sources. AMG, GAM, and H.C. Starck (now Taniobis) all run Ta recycling lines that meaningfully offset primary mine supply.
Physical Properties [1]
Z: 73 · Ar: 180.948 u · ρ: 16.69 g/cm3 · Tm: 3,017 °C · Tb: 5,458 °CCrystal: bcc · Config: [Xe]4f145d36s2 · Ox. states: -3 to +5
References
- Wolfram Alpha, “Tantalum element.” wolframalpha.com.
- Responsible Minerals Initiative, “Tantalum Smelter List.” responsiblemineralsinitiative.org.
- United States Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025: Tantalum, January 2025.