China’s Ganzhou Tungsten Assn (GTA) has increased its price forecasts for tungsten products in August sharply, reflecting tightening supply in China’s domestic market.

Tight domestic supply is due to a slew of production disruptions following environmental checks, flooding over the past several months and the suspension of operations over the summer months. The GTA forecasts black tungsten concentrates with 65% tungsten content to average 91,000 yuan ($13,542) per tonne in August, an increase of 9,500 yuan or 11.7% from July, it said late last week.