Rare earth prices in the doldrums; downstream wait-and-see sentiment strong, trading sluggish [SMM Rare Earth Daily Review]
[SMM Rare Earth Daily Review: Rare Earth Prices in the Doldrums; Downstream Wait-and-See Sentiment Strong, Trading Sluggish] Overall, rare earth market prices today showed a weak pattern of "Pr-Nd pulling back, medium-heavy rare earth metals softening, and most oxides holding steady": of the twelve products, eight closed flat, four declined, and none rose. The decline was mainly concentrated in the metal segment, and the drop in metal prices was generally larger than that of corresponding oxides, with pricing pressure shifting from the raw material side to the processing side. In terms of trading, the pullback in quotes did not simultaneously ignite buying interest. Downstream magnetic material enterprises remained largely in a wait-and-see mood, with purchases still dominated by rigid-demand inquiries. In the short term, with limited trading days remaining before the holiday, downstream magnetic material enterprises still have rigid stocking demand, but their ability to absorb current price levels is limited. Pr-Nd products are likely to continue consolidating in a narrow range.