Rare Earth Market Trading Sluggish, Prices Overall in the Doldrums [SMM Rare Earth Daily Review]

Published: Aug 20, 2026 13:57

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[SMM Rare Earth Daily Review: Rare Earth Market Transactions Sluggish, Prices Generally in the Doldrums] Overall, inquiry activity in the rare earth market remains low, and actual transaction performance continues in a stalemate, with rare earth prices generally in the doldrums. In the short term, under the influence of sustained sluggish market transactions, Pr-Nd product prices are expected to maintain a pattern of moving sideways.

SMM August 20 News: Today, the overall rare earth market prices were in the doldrums. Specifically, in the oxide market, Pr-Nd oxide prices were down 500 yuan/mt, dysprosium oxide flat, terbium oxide up 15,000 yuan/mt, gadolinium oxide flat, holmium oxide flat, and erbium oxide flat.
In the metal market, Pr-Nd alloy prices were down 2,500 yuan/mt, dysprosium-iron alloy flat, terbium metal up 50,000 yuan/mt, gadolinium-iron alloy down 1,500 yuan/mt, holmium-iron alloy flat, and lanthanum-cerium metal (alloy grade) flat.
In markets outside China, praseodymium oxide FOB prices were stable this week, neodymium oxide FOB prices were down $10/kg this week, terbium oxide FOB prices were down $2/kg this week, dysprosium oxide FOB prices were flat this week, Pr-Nd oxide (FOB China) prices were down $2/kg this week, praseodymium metal FOB prices were flat this week, neodymium metal FOB prices were flat this week, terbium metal FOB prices were down $5/kg this week, and Pr-Nd alloy (FOB China) prices were down $1/kg this week.
Currently, rare earth market prices continue to be in the doldrums. Focusing on the Pr-Nd market, although market inquiry activities have been sluggish recently, spot Pr-Nd oxide suppliers' quotes have been relatively firm, leading to a stagnant transaction performance, with prices in the doldrums. Although Pr-Nd metal prices have seen a slight decline, metal enterprises, supported by oxide costs, still maintain firm quotes, with limited overall decline; downstream inquiry and procurement attitudes are more wait-and-see, and actual market transactions remain in the doldrums.
In the medium-heavy rare earth market, terbium products saw a slight uptick in supplier quotes due to tight low-priced spot cargo, while dysprosium, holmium and other products remained overall stable with no obvious fluctuations; gadolinium products saw supplier quotes lowered due to low inquiry prices. Overall, rare earth market inquiry activity remains low, actual transaction performance continues to be stagnant, and rare earth prices are overall in the doldrums. In the short term, affected by the persistent sluggish market transactions, Pr-Nd product prices are likely to move sideways.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

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