Rare earth trades thinned, prices for many products trended lower

SHANGHAI, Apr 20 (SMM)—Trades in the rare earth market further thinned. On prices, prices of upstream magnetic materials, including praseodymium, neodymium, terbium, dysprosium, gadolinium and holmium, declined to varying degrees. The quotations of products such as lanthanum, cerium, samarium, europium, and gadolinium stabilised. Traders sold cargoes at lower prices, major plants still held prices firm and some separation plants have suspended quotations during the fluctuating market. As for metal plants, product prices fluctuated in line with market conditions, or the quotes were firm. Most of the magnetic material companies said that their orders were bullish, but the raw material inventory was still adequate, most of which held a wait-and-see outlook and a few of which restocked on dips. Prices of NdFeB blank remained stable.

On light rare earth, as of April 16, prices of 2N5-3N lanthanum oxide stood at 8,500-9,000 yuan/mt, 2N5-3N cerium oxide at 9,200-9700 yuan/mt, lanthanum at 29,000-30,000 yuan/mt, cerium at 31,000-32,000 yuan/mt, with the average price flat from the previous week; neodymium praseodymium oxide prices were quoted at 565,000-570,000 yuan/mt, with average price down 1.92% from a week ago, and individual companies said that the actual transaction price fell below 560,000 yuan/mt; praseodymium and neodymium at 697,000-703,000 yuan/mt, with the average price down 1.97% from last week, and individual products were traded at 685,000 yuan/mt; praseodymium oxide trended higher and stood at 530,000-540,000 yuan/mt, while individual products were traded at 560,000-580,000 yuan/mt; the quotation of praseodymium also increased to 690,000-700,000 yuan/mt; neodymium oxide remained weak, and the quotation was lowered to 580,000-585,000 yuan/mt, and neodymium at 730,000-750,000 yuan/mt during the payment days, seeing thinned trades.

On medium and heavy rare earth, as of April 16, samarium oxide prices stood at 13,000-14,000 yuan/mt, with individual products at 12,000 yuan/mt; europium oxide stood at 190,000-200,000 yuan/mt, with the average price flat from a week ago. Gadolinium oxide stood at 218,000 to 220,000 yuan/mt, and the average price fell 2.97% on the week; terbium oxide at 9,000-9,100 yuan/kg, and the average price fell 4.74% from a week ago, with individual products at 8,800 yuan/kg, but trades thinned. Dysprosium oxide stood at 3,000-3,020 yuan/kg, with the average price down 0.16% on the week, and individual transactions were at 2,930 yuan/kg. Yttrium oxide stood at 34,000-37,000 yuan/mt, with few transactions; Holmium oxide recorded 850,000-900,000 yuan/mt, without any transactions.

Products such as terbium, dysprosium, and holmium have increased sharply in the early stage, but trended lower last week, and are expected to decrease this week. Terbium oxide material lost the support of 9,000 yuan/kg and stood at 8,500 yuan/kg. Dysprosium oxide material fell below 2,800 yuan/kg and fluctuated at 2,800 yuan/kg; holmium oxide is expected to fall to 800,000 yuan/mt. Neodymium praseodymium products weakened slightly last week and are expected to be supported at 550,000 yuan/mt this week, and neodymium praseodymium is expected to be supported at 680,000 yuan/mt. Recently, some companies have purchased praseodymium oxide to reconcile praseodymium and neodymium oxide in order to reduce costs, which has led to an increase in inquiries for praseodymium oxide, and prices have also trended higher. However, the price increase is expected to be very limited and remain stable this week.