Rare Earth Prices Continue to Rise amid Scarce Supply

SHANGHAI, Sep 27 (SMM) - Rare earth prices rose as a whole today. According to SMM understanding, the mainstream transaction price of PrNd has been raised to 665,000-675,000 yuan/mt, terbium oxide 12,700-12,800 yuan/kg, dysprosium oxide 2,270-2,290 yuan/kg, gadolinium oxide 360,000-365,000 yuan/mt, and holmium oxide 670,000-690,000 yuan/ton.

Today, the price hike of PrNd products has been relatively significant, and the prices of other rare earths rose as well. According to SMM research, the PrNd oxide prices rose palpably today, as is reported by metal factories that it was hard to source oxide. Some metal factories in Sichuan province even suspended making quotes for failure in sourcing PrNd oxide. Some magnetic material factories said that the price of PrNd products has been rising rapidly at present, but they believed that the prices may drop after the National Day holiday, thus purchased on demand. Meanwhile, the prices of dysprosium oxide, gadolinium oxide and holmium oxide continued to rise as well. Cargo holders kept the prices high, and there were fewer low-priced sources. The prices of dysprosium iron, gadolinium iron and holmium iron rose accordingly. 

At present, the overall rare earth prices are with relatively strong momentum as the supply of rare earth oxides is relatively tight. But downstream companies boycotted high-priced sources. Hence transactions have been lacklustre.