Prices of rare earth products likely to fluctuate at highs this week

SHANGHAI, Mar 17 (SMM)—Prices of rare earth products were mixed last week after slower gains in the previous week.  Prices of rare earth products fell slightly and then stabilised.

Inquiries and shipments by traders increased last week, but actual trades were limited. Some rare earth ore traders reported a weaker purchasing interest of separation plants. Most of the mainstream rare earth separation plants held back cargoes. Offers stabilised from the prior week amid scarce shipments. Some large metal factories were delivering for their previous orders, leaving no spot cargoes to sell; magnetic material factories had up to three months of inventory, remaining on the sidelines.

On the light rare earth front, didymium oxide was quoted at 570,000-572,000 yuan/mt as of Friday March 12, and the weekly average price fell 0.19% from the previous week to 580,400 yuan/mt; praseodymium-neodymium alloy was quoted at 710,000-720,000 yuan/mt and the weekly average price fell 0.14% to 725,000 yuan/mt; the average prices of lanthanum oxide and cerium oxide remained stable from the previous week, and prices of cerium misch metal continued to pick up.

On the medium and heavy rare earth side, terbium oxide was quoted at 9,800-9,900 yuan/kg as of March 12, and the weekly average price fell 0.37% from the previous week. Terbium was quoted at 12,600-13,000 yuan/mt, with the weekly average price up 0.47%; dysprosium oxide was quoted at 2,980-3,000 yuan/kg. 

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