Rare Earth Transactions Remained Weak, Weighing on Market Prices

SHANGHAI, Feb 20 (SMM) - The prices of rare earths kept falling last week. The inquiries and transactions of rare earth oxide and metal were both subdued, as downstream magnetic material factories received few new orders. Some top-tier magnetic material factories delivered long-term orders only and saw no new orders, and some small ones even had no orders at all. Continuously falling rare earth metal prices made magnetic material factories more cautious towards the procurement of rare earths.

According to SMM research, as of February 17, in terms of light rare earth products, the prices of PrNd oxide (daily average price) stood at 685,000 yuan/mt, down 35,000 yuan/mt from the previous week; PrNd alloy 840,000 yuan/mt, down 40,000 yuan/mt; neodymium oxide 755,000 yuan/mt, down 30,000 yuan/mt; neodymium metal 930,000 yuan/mt, down 40,000 yuan/mt; lanthanum oxide 6,650 yuan/mt, flat; and cerium oxide 6,800 yuan/mt, flat. For heavy rare earth, dysprosium iron prices (daily average) stood at 2,260,000 yuan/mt, down 130,000 yuan/mt from a week ago; gadolinium iron 365,000 yuan/mt, down 45,000 yuan/mt; and holmium iron 775,000 yuan/mt, down 150,000 yuan/mt.

On the supply side, the production of rare earth separation plants and metal factories has been normal, assuring stable supply. On the demand side, the insufficient new orders received by magnetic materials factories have led to significantly contained demand. SMM predicts that in the short term, the prices of rare earths will keep falling.