August 10 SMM Rare Earth Afternoon Trading Comment

[Pr-Nd Oxide Quotations Stall, Low-Price Shipments Persist; Metal Follows Decline, Transactions in Stalemate; Magnetic Material Orders Recover with Work Resumption] Last week, affected by fluctuations in futures prices, bearish sentiment spread in the market. The wait-and-see sentiment among downstream metal plants further intensified. Most upstream suppliers stopped quoting, but some traders indicated they could continue low-price shipments. In the medium-heavy rare earth market, dysprosium oxide and terbium oxide saw relatively small changes, with prices temporarily relatively stable.

This week, FOB quotations in the ex-China rare earth market generally declined, with varieties such as terbium oxide and terbium metal seeing noticeable drops. However, affected by policies and weak demand, actual transaction volumes were thin, and heavy rare earth prices stayed high. Meanwhile, supply chain restructuring moves were frequent: resources at Namibia's Kameelburg increased by another 35%, Japanese capital officially entered the Lofdal project; Malaysia considered conditionally liberalizing raw ore exports; US-based Energy Fuels advanced the final investment decision for the Donald project in Australia, and Lockheed Martin signed a long-term scandium supply agreement. A survey in Japan showed that 80% of manufacturing executives considered rare earth procurement a major risk, highlighting anxiety in the industry chain.