Current applicability and consumption of cobalt
Due to the limited resources, the cobalt production in China has been increased slowly and can not meet the demands of the domestic market for a long time, and the deficiency is made up by import. In recent years, the cobalt production in China (including production of cobalt oxide reduced to that of cobalt) has reached 600~700 tons while the annual domestic consumption is maintained at around 1,200 tons. Thus, about 500 tons of cobalt need to be imported every year. The import and export data in recent years are listed in Table 3.11.3.
Import and export trade of metallic cobalt during the period of 1993~1997
Trends
There is a certain proportion of nickel consumption to steel output (i.e. nickel/steel ratio) worldwide. There is also a certain proportion of cobalt output to nickel output in China, and it is about 0.045~0.036. In 1983, the steel output in China was 40 million tons. In the same year, the nickel consumption was 30,000 tons, and the cobalt consumption was 800 tons. Based on these figures, cobalt consumption is equal to 0.002% of steel output. On this basis, the demand for cobalt in China can be predicted in the future, and the detailed figures in this respect are given in Table 3.11.4.
Table 3.11.4 Prognosis of annual demand for cobalt in China
In China, cobalt is mainly consumed in hard alloys, cobalt alloys, magnetic material, ceramics, chemical products and catalysts. In recent years, the hard alloy industry grows rapidly, and the demand for metallic cobalt powder rises. Besides, the demand of the battery industry for metallic cobalt powder increases dramatically, adding new energy to the market of metallic cobalt powder. The development of electric automobiles will also promote the increasing demand of the battery industry for metallic cobalt powder. The demands of the diamond tool and catalyst industries for metallic cobalt are showing a tendency to go up.As the professional manufacturer of complete sets of mining machinery, such as impact crusher,cement production line, Henan Hongxing is always doing the best in products and service.
According to the plan of Jinchuan Nonferrous Metal Company, Jinchuan Nickel Mine in Gansu, the largest cobalt producer in China, will provide 600 tons of electrolytic cobalt in 2010. It is estimated that in 2010 the Daye Iron Mine in Hubei, Jinling Iron Mine in Shandong and Zhongtiaoshan Nonferrous Metal Company in Shanxi will keep an annual cobalt output of 300~400 tons. Once the associated cobalt in the Shilu Mine, Hainan province, is recovered, cobalt production will even be higher. In addition, some cobalt has been recovered from cobalt-bearing waste in China, but its amount is limited.
To sum up, China can produce 1,200~1,500 tons of cobalt in 2010, which will meet only 40%~50% of the country’s needs. Consequently, domestic cobalt production will not meet China’s demands.
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