CLA - Cobalt related news, page-2182

ill do some push ups with you popeye. heres lates tCo  foreecast from fastmarkets.

soft Q1 (you betcha)

tightening Q 2 -fingers crossed

Cobalt outlook 2019: Supply and demand

In 2019, Fastmarkets’ Adams expects the market to move into a supply surplus as Katanga and ERG ramp up production.
Despite forecasting Q1 to be slow given Chinese Lunar New Year and because new-energy vehicle sales tend to be concentrated in the final third of the year, Adams said Q2 is expected to be tight on the back of supply disruptions from Katanga and restraint from other producers due to low prices.
“We expect artisanal supply to drop as well as scrap supply. All the time, however, we expect strong demand — it is just that the supply response in 2018/2019 will be overwhelming,” he added.
All in all, Fastmarkets expects supply to increase by around 15,000 tonnes in 2019.
Adams explained there may be a shortage in the Q1 or Q2 if Katanga continues to halt exports, but much will depend on whether consumers come in to restock.
“ERG is also ramping up so that will provide extra supply, and we expect other smaller Chinese-owned mines in the DRC to start producing and Panoramic Resources’ (ASX:PAN) Savannah mine in Australia is expected to restart output in Q2 2019,” he said.
Adams added that scrap supply is expected to slow as prices are now less attractive. Low prices may lead to less artisanal supply as well.