As industry regulation policies continue to be implemented, compliant scrap is currently insufficient to support recyclers in maintaining a high operating rate. Market expectations for tighter rare earth raw material supply are intensifying. After a prior period of fluctuating downward, Pr-Nd oxide prices have achieved three consecutive daily gains. Supply side, driven by policy guidance, the rare earth scrap recycling industry has entered a phase of reasonable production pace adjustments. Multiple recyclers reported that the industry operating rate is expected to pull back from June to July: large enterprises, with their higher self-mining ratios, are seeing more pronounced production cuts; while medium and small enterprises, with lower self-mining ratios and a larger proportion of processing orders, are experiencing a relatively limited impact on actual production.
Pr-Nd Oxide Sees Three-Day Winning Streak, Up 2.85% on 17th
According to SMM price data, the spot price of Pr-Nd oxide stood at 720,000-725,000 yuan/mt on June 17, with an average price of 722,500 yuan/mt, an increase of 20,000 yuan/mt or 2.85% from the previous trading day.
Driven by proliferating expectations of supply tightness, Pr-Nd oxide began its rise on June 15. The average price of 722,500 yuan/mt on June 17 represents an increase of 32,000 yuan/mt or 4.63% from the average price of 690,500 yuan/mt on June 12, achieving a three-day winning streak.
Market Outlook
Expectations for production cuts in the scrap recycling sector significantly boosted Pr-Nd prices, but downstream purchasing sentiment remains cautious, with a heavy wait-and-see atmosphere in the market. Near-term trading is expected to stay stagnant, with Pr-Nd prices likely moving sideways in a narrow range in the short term. Medium and long-term, it is crucial to monitor the supply pace of compliant scrap. As an important supplement to rare earth raw materials, the circulation volume of compliant recycled materials and the normalized operating rates of recyclers will have a lasting impact on raw material supply elasticity. Meanwhile, attention should be paid to the pace of demand release during traditional industry peak seasons; changes on both the supply and demand sides will affect the medium and long-term price equilibrium for Pr-Nd oxide.
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