SMM, July 29: Rare earth market prices continued in the doldrums today. Specifically, in the oxide market, Pr-Nd oxide price decreased by 5,000 yuan/mt, dysprosium oxide price remained flat, terbium oxide price remained flat, gadolinium oxide price decreased by 1,000 yuan/mt, holmium oxide price increased by 5,000 yuan/mt, and erbium oxide price decreased by 15,000 yuan/mt.
In the metal market, Pr-Nd alloy price decreased by 5,000 yuan/mt, dysprosium-iron alloy price remained flat, terbium metal price remained flat, gadolinium-iron alloy price decreased by 1,500 yuan/mt, holmium-iron alloy price remained flat, and lanthanum-cerium metal (alloy grade) price remained flat.
In markets outside China, FOB prices this week: praseodymium oxide remained flat, neodymium oxide remained flat, terbium oxide decreased by $8/kg, dysprosium oxide remained flat, praseodymium metal remained flat, neodymium metal decreased by $5/kg, and terbium metal decreased by $8/kg.
Currently, the overall rare earth market prices remain soft. Focusing on the Pr-Nd market, Pr-Nd oxide futures prices recovered somewhat, and market inquiry activity gradually increased. This prompted spot Pr-Nd oxide suppliers to raise their offers accordingly. However, as inquiry prices were low, the actual increase was relatively small, and prices remained on the weak side compared with yesterday morning. In the metal market, driven by the recovery in oxide prices and a reduction in low-priced goods, suppliers also slightly raised their offers. But downstream magnetic material enterprises mainly restocked based on rigid demand, and their acceptance of high-priced metals was limited. Therefore, although offers recovered, prices remained weak compared with yesterday morning.
In the medium-heavy rare earth market, situations varied. Since market inquiry activity did not increase significantly, suppliers of dysprosium and terbium products kept their offers relatively stable, and the market ran steadily. Gadolinium products saw continuous price declines due to limited inquiry activity. Meanwhile, holmium oxide market inquiry activity increased, low-priced goods dwindled, and suppliers accordingly raised their offers. However, holmium-iron alloy market inquiry activity did not increase notably, and magnetic material enterprises had limited acceptance of high-priced holmium-iron alloy, so suppliers left their offers unchanged.
Overall, inquiry activity in the Pr-Nd market improved, but downstream magnetic material enterprises still mainly restocked based on rigid demand and showed limited acceptance of high-priced metals. As a result, although Pr-Nd product prices recovered modestly, they remained weaker than yesterday morning. In the short term, due to the stalemate between buyers and sellers, Pr-Nd product prices are expected to consolidate within a narrow range.
