Iran Conflict Has Minimal Impact on Rare Earth Industry, May Affect European Prices

Amid multiple factors, China's mainstream rare earth prices fell across the board. Currently, neodymium-praseodymium oxide is quoted at 760,000-780,000 yuan/tonne, and neodymium-praseodymium metal at 940,000-950,000 yuan/tonne, down 95,000 yuan/tonne from Monday.

Lynas Rare Earths has amended its supply agreement with Japan Australia Rare Earths (JARE). The revised agreement secures 5,000 tonnes of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) from Lynas annually, while JARE commits to purchasing 50% of Lynas's annual production of heavy rare earths, such as dysprosium and terbium. The total rare earth oxides covered by the agreement are expected to exceed 7,200 tonnes per year. Regarding pricing: A price floor of USD 110 per kilogram is established for the committed 5,000-tonne volume. If the market price exceeds USD 150 per kilogram, JARE will receive 30% of the excess amount over USD 150, subject to an annual cap of USD 10 million

According to foreign media reports, ASX-listed Lindian Resources signed a binding agreement to acquire a 51% equity stake in the Sareco Mixed Rare Earth Carbonatite (MREC) processing plant in Kazakhstan. The plant was previously operated by a joint venture between Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation and Kazakhstan’s national atomic energy company, Kazatomprom, and will now be jointly operated by Lindian (51%) and its domestic joint-venture partner, the RA Group (49%). The acquisition will upgrade Lindian’s business from rare earth concentrate production to higher-value MREC production, significantly improving its economic returns.