SMM Rare Earth Weekly Survey: Prices for Rare Earth Products Expected to Rise Further (Mar. 3-7, 2014)

SHANGHAI, Mar. 4 (SMM) – Last week, China’s rare earth market held steady. SMM survey showed that prices for some rare earth products continued to rise driven by positive reports. However, real demand showed limited improvement. In this context, trading missed forecast.

Prices for were RMB 23,000-25,000/mt for lanthanum oxide (tax included) last week, RMB 23,000-25,000/mt for cerium oxide, and RMB 570,000-580,000/mt for praseodymium oxide. Neodymium oxide was sold at RMB 310,000-320,000/mt. Didymium oxide was mainly traded at RMB 315,000-325,000/mt, and prices for praseodymium-neodymium alloy (including tax) were RMB 415,000-425,000/mt. Prices were RMB 4,300-4,500/kg for fluorescence grade europium oxide, and RMB 3,300-3,500/kg for fluorescence grade terbium oxide. Yttrium oxide was quoted at RMB 61,000-66,000/mt. Prices for dysprosium oxide (including tax) were RMB 1.7-1.85 million/mt, and those for dysprosium-iron alloy were RMB 1.85-1.95 million/mt.

SMM anticipates that rare earth stockpiling to be initiated and increasing production of alternative energy automobile will continue to drive up prices for some rare earth products.