CBMM

What CBMM does

CBMM (Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração) is a privately held Brazilian mining and materials company founded in 1955 in Araxá, Minas Gerais, and is the world's leading supplier of niobium products and technology. The company controls approximately 80% of global niobium production and over 82% of the ferro niobium market from its integrated open-pit mining and industrial complex in Araxá. CBMM operates a fully vertically integrated value chain spanning 160+ chemical and metallurgical processing steps to produce ferroniobium (for HSLA steel), vacuum-grade niobium alloys (for aerospace and superconductors), niobium pentoxide, metallic niobium, and emerging battery-grade niobium anode materials including the XNO and NTO (SCiB Nb) product lines.

The company's commercial reach spans a global network of wholly-owned regional offices (Houston for North America, Amsterdam for EMEA, Singapore for Southeast Asia, Geneva for technology coordination, three China offices, and São Paulo) complemented by exclusive distribution partnerships with Sojitz Corporation (Japan, with a 15% ownership stake) and CITIC Metal (China). It serves over 500 customers across three primary segments: Steel and Construction (~85% of niobium demand, via HSLA steel microalloying), Energy and Mobility (battery anodes for ultra-fast charging applications), and Aerospace and Healthcare (vacuum-grade alloys, MRI superconductors). Strategic technology partnerships with Toshiba, Echion Technologies, Gus Technology, NOVONIX, University of Birmingham, Volkswagen, and Nyobolt are positioning niobium as a critical material for electric vehicle electrification, energy storage, and carbon recycling in steelmaking.

CBMM generates revenue primarily through one-time product sales of niobium materials, with pricing set by market supply-demand dynamics. The company commands a substantial price premium (approximately 10x aluminum, 20x steel) reflecting its near-monopoly position. It has invested in proprietary technology centers, holds multiple ISO certifications (9001, 14001, 45001, 17025, 27001, 37001), and reports Scope 1 and 2 carbon neutrality targets for 2040. CBMM also reports sustainability disclosures under GRI and SASB standards, and has demonstrated significant environmental stewardship including 96% water recycling in production.

Name

CBMM

Legal name

Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração

Website

https://cbmm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

CBMM is the world's leading niobium producer, controlling approximately 80% of global supply from its integrated mine-to-product operations in Araxá, Brazil. It supplies ferroniobium, niobium oxides, and battery anode materials to over 500 customers across steel, energy, mobility, and aerospace sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Niobium Materials and Mining

NAICS

Basic Chemical Manufacturing (3251), Chemical Manufacturing (325)

SIC

Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery-Grade Chemical Processing (LiOH/Li2CO3, Ni/Co Sulfates, Mn Sulfate) (IMAKAFAI)

Keywords

• Niobium mining
• Ferroniobium production
• Niobium oxide refining
• Niobium battery materials
• High-strength low-alloy steel

Headquarters

HQ city

Araxá

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Niobium Product Sales: CBMM generates revenue through the sale of processed niobium products including ferroniobium, vacuum-grade niobium alloys, niobium pentoxide, metallic niobium, and niobium-based anode materials. Products are sold directly through regional offices and via distributors in specific markets.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CBMM is the world's leading supplier of niobium products and technology, fully integrated from open-pit mining in Araxá, Brazil through 160+ chemical and metallurgical processing steps to final products. The company produces and sells ferroniobium, vacuum-grade niobium alloys, niobium pentoxide, battery-grade niobium oxide, and metallic niobium to industrial customers in the steel, mobility, energy, aerospace, and healthcare sectors across more than 50 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kika no Cerrado: Environmental education initiative featuring characters Kika, Eva, and Manduca teaching about the Cerrado biome and environmental preservation
• Pessoas que Transformam
• Centro de Desenvolvimento Humano (CDH)

Products and services

• Ferroniobium Primary niobium product used as a microalloying element in high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel production. Sold to steel mills, automotive manufacturers, and construction materials producers globally to enhance steel strength, durability, and weight-reduction properties.
• Vacuum-Grade Niobium Alloys High-purity niobium alloys produced via vacuum processing for high-temperature and extreme-environment applications. Sold to medical imaging equipment manufacturers, particle accelerator operators, aerospace primes, and specialty alloy producers for superconductors, spacecraft components, and medical devices.
• Niobium Pentoxide
• Metallic Niobium Pure metallic niobium sold to specialty alloy producers, superconductor manufacturers, and advanced materials fabricators for high-performance applications.
• Battery-Grade Niobium Oxide High-purity battery-grade niobium oxide produced at CBMM's 3,000 tonnes per year industrial-scale refining facility, used in advanced lithium-ion battery cathode and anode materials. Sold to battery cell producers, EV manufacturers, and energy storage companies.
• Niobium-Based Anode Materials (XNO / NTO) Niobium-based anode materials including XNO (mixed niobium oxide) and NTO (niobium-titanium oxide) used by battery cell producers to manufacture ultra-fast charging lithium-ion batteries with extended cycle life, low-temperature operation, and high energy density. Sold to battery cell producers and EV OEM partners such as Toshiba, Echion Technologies, and Gus Technology.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% carbon emissions reduction in steel-making through niobium-based carbon recycling technology
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Echion TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026Partnership for XNO niobium-based anode technology development for commercial battery production. Echion's dedicated XNO production partnership with CBMM capable of supplying approximately 1GWh of cells per year.
• Gus TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026Taiwan-based partner for commercial manufacturing of high-power lithium-ion batteries using Echion's XNO niobium-based anode technology. Manufacturing underway at Gus's Zhongli facility in Taiwan with annual capacity of around 1GWh.
• CodemigcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Joint governance partnership for niobium exploration in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Established Audit, Compliance, Governance, and Sustainability Committee to strengthen oversight. Codemig secured 25% share of niobium profits for up to 45 years under October 2025 contract.
• University of BirminghamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2025Partnership to reduce cost of producing niobium for closed-loop carbon technology that can cut carbon emissions in steel-making by up to 90%. Technology uses niobium-based perovskites to convert captured CO2 into carbon monoxide for blast furnace feed.
• PeroCycleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2025Spin-out company backed by University of Birmingham and Anglo American for commercialization of niobium-based carbon recycling technology outcomes.
• Toshiba CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2025Strategic partnership for niobium-titanium oxide (NTO) battery technology branded as SCiB Nb, enabling ultra-fast charging at 5C rates with approximately 15,000 cycle longevity for commercial vehicle electrification. CBMM supplies approximately 85% of global niobium production through Sojitz's exclusive Japanese market representation and 15% ownership stake.
• NOVONIXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2024Joint development agreement focused on nickel-based cathode materials for batteries. NOVONIX uses its patented all-dry, zero-waste synthesis process and pilot line to synthesize, test, and analyze cathode active materials incorporating CBMM's niobium products.
• Volkswagen Caminhões e ÔnibuscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership for development of electric bus prototype launched in 2024, powered by lithium-ion battery with niobium technology developed with Toshiba and CBMM.
• Sojitz CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive Japanese market distributor for CBMM niobium products with 15% ownership stake in the partnership arrangement.
• CITIC MetalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial sales partner for CBMM niobium products in China market.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Sojitz Corporation: Sojitz is CBMM's exclusive Japanese market distributor and holds a 15% ownership stake. It is included as a peer given its deep commercial and equity alignment with CBMM and its broader role as a trading house for critical minerals and specialty metals in Asia.
• Toshiba Corporation: Toshiba is a strategic battery development partner of CBMM, co-developing the SCiB Nb niobium-titanium oxide ultra-fast charging battery. It is included as a peer given its joint technology roadmap with CBMM and its established position in lithium-ion battery systems for industrial and mobility applications.

Broad incumbents

• Vale S.A. Vale is a Brazilian-headquartered global mining major producing iron ore, nickel, copper, and other metals. It is comparable to CBMM as a Brazilian-domiciled, vertically-integrated miner with diversified mineral output and similar geographic concentration in Brazil.
• Anglo American plc: Anglo American is a diversified global mining major with exposure to critical minerals, base metals, and steelmaking inputs. It is comparable to CBMM through its diversification strategy into future-facing materials and its partnership with University of Birmingham on the PeroCycle carbon recycling technology.
• Glencore plc: Glencore is one of the world's largest diversified natural resource companies with significant mining, smelting, and metals trading operations including cobalt, copper, and zinc. It is comparable to CBMM as a vertically integrated mining and metals marketing business with trading scale.
• CMOC Group (China Molybdenum): CMOC is a major Chinese mining and metals company with operations across copper, cobalt, molybdenum, and niobium (via the Brazilian Catalão/Nebojas deposits). It is comparable as a diversified critical minerals producer with exposure to niobium, batteries, and steel-related metals.

Direct peers

• NioCorp Developments: NioCorp is developing the Elk Creek critical minerals project in Nebraska, targeting niobium, scandium, titanium, and rare earths. It is the most direct comparable to CBMM as a primary niobium producer aiming to enter Western markets outside CBMM's Brazilian supply dominance.

Emerging players

• Materion Corporation: Materion is a US-based specialty metals producer with capabilities in beryllium, precious metals, and advanced alloys. It is comparable to CBMM as a niche specialty metallurgy business serving aerospace, energy, and industrial customers with high-value engineered materials.
• MP Materials Corp. MP Materials is the largest producer of rare earth materials in the Western Hemisphere, with an integrated mine-to-magnet platform and US strategic backing. It is comparable to CBMM as a vertically integrated, Western-aligned critical minerals champion pursuing supply diversification away from concentrated incumbent geographies.
• Echion Technologies: Echion is a UK-based battery materials company that developed the XNO niobium-based anode technology now commercialized with CBMM and Gus Technology. It is comparable to CBMM as a direct development partner in the niobium battery materials space, with aligned commercialization economics.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/CBMM-global
• Facebookfacebook.com/cbmmoficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cbmm
• Instagraminstagram.com/cbmm_oficial
• Xx.com/CBMM_Oficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments9 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CBMM