Brazil’s CBMM, the world’s largest supplier of niobium products, plans technology development investments of 270mn reais (US$52.9mn) in 2024, up from 230mn reais reported last year.
“With robust investments in the areas of technology and process and product development, CBMM will continue its strategy of sustainable growth in the niobium market through applications, technology and value creation,” the firm said in a statement.
“Focused on driving innovations in its core segment, the steel industry, and diversifying its operations, especially on the batteries and nanomaterials fronts, the company’s contributions to its technology program totaled 230mn reais in 2023, and should be even more significant in 2024, reaching 270mn reais,” it added.
“Niobium is a material with installed capacity greater than global demand, therefore, it is a segment in which a lot of work is being done in the areas of research and development, to seek new applications for the material,” Afonso Sartorio, EY‘s mining and metals sector lead for South America told BNamericas.
Due to this characteristic, CBMM’s battery materials and technology division will likely receive 80mn reais, equivalent to the amount seen last year.
“With a production capacity of 150,000t of niobium products per year, a level higher than current global market demand, CBMM expects accelerated growth in the battery sector over the next five years, with the development of materials that guarantee even more competitiveness and quality,” CBMM said.
A key battery initiative relates to innovation in the automotive sector. The firm partnered with Toshiba and Volkswagen to develop technology for trucks and buses and is expected to unveil the world’s first electric bus with lithium batteries based on niobium-titanium mixed oxide technology later this year.
“This technology will allow fast charging operations with greater durability and safety, meeting the main demands of this market,” said the firm.
The company will also put into operation a niobium oxide plant at its industrial complex in Minas Gerais state. Announced in 2022, the plant required an investment of 265mn reais.
CBMM’s revenue was 11.4bn reais in 2023 and net profit 4.9bn reais. Total sales of niobium products increased by 5% to 92,000t.
Around 95% of CBMM’s production is exported, with the Asia-Pacific market accounting for around 64% of sales volume, Europe, the Middle East and Africa 19% and the Americas 17%.
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The project under study envisages doubling production of lithium concentrate from the current 45,000t/y.
Guilherme Jácome, president of Piauí Níquel Metais, a subsidiary of Brazilian Nickel, spoke with BNamericas about the company’s project and the mar…
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