Affected by tight supply on the mining side, tungsten prices continued to rise; meanwhile, pre-holiday restocking by rare earth metal plants, combined with maintenance at several separation plants starting in January, contributed to the trend. Domestic antimony prices remained stable, while overseas antimony prices surged dramatically. News of tight niobium supply driving niobium prices higher in late November also provided a boost. The minor metal sector continued its upward trend on January 7, following the rise on the 6th. As of the close on the 7th, the minor metal sector rose by 2.82%. In terms of individual stocks, Orient Tantalum Industry hit the daily limit, while Long Magnetic Technology, BOKE New Materials, Western Materials, and Eontec were among the top gainers.

Niobium, identified by its atomic number Nb, is a grey, ductile metal with significant applications across various industries due to its unique properties. Extracted mainly from the minerals pyrochlore and columbite, niobium is recognized for its high melting point and resistance to corrosion. These characteristics make it a valuable additive in metal alloys, particularly in the steel manufacturing industry.