Rare Earth Prices Rise Slightly as Downstream Inquiry Activity Picks Up Amid News-Driven Factors

Published: May 20, 2026 18:48
[SMM Rare Earth News Flash] Influenced by news-driven factors, downstream inquiry activity picked up in the afternoon. As of 18:00 this evening, Pr-Nd oxide prices closed at 690,000-695,000 yuan/mt, up slightly by 2,500 yuan/mt from the morning price. Spot Pr-Nd alloy prices showed no significant change from the morning, with mainstream quotations remaining at 850,000 yuan/mt, while a small volume of deferred payment wire transfer deals were concluded at 845,000 yuan/mt. Currently, wait-and-see sentiment on the downstream demand side of the rare earth market remained strong, with purchasing being relatively cautious and actual trading volume in the market still limited.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz to All Vessels, Threatens Unauthorized Passage
43 mins ago
Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz to All Vessels, Threatens Unauthorized Passage
Read More
Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz to All Vessels, Threatens Unauthorized Passage
Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz to All Vessels, Threatens Unauthorized Passage
Iran’s armed forces announced on the 11th that the Strait of Hormuz is closed to all vessels effective immediately, and any unauthorized passage will be targeted. According to multiple Iranian media reports, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of Iran’s armed forces issued a statement in the early hours of the 11th, saying that due to regional instability, the Strait of Hormuz is closed to all vessels effective immediately, including oil tankers and merchant ships, and any unauthorized passage will be targeted. Iran also dismissed US claims regarding ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
43 mins ago
South Korea Launches R&D Project to Recycle Fuel Cells and Rare Earth Magnets From Scrapped Hydrogen Vehicles
4 hours ago
South Korea Launches R&D Project to Recycle Fuel Cells and Rare Earth Magnets From Scrapped Hydrogen Vehicles
Read More
South Korea Launches R&D Project to Recycle Fuel Cells and Rare Earth Magnets From Scrapped Hydrogen Vehicles
South Korea Launches R&D Project to Recycle Fuel Cells and Rare Earth Magnets From Scrapped Hydrogen Vehicles
South Korea will launch a national R&D project to reuse fuel cells and rare earth permanent magnets recovered from scrapped hydrogen vehicles. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute announced on June 8 that they will begin a national R&D project to safely dismantle end-of-life hydrogen vehicles and reuse or recycle their key components. The ministry will invest KRW 40.8 billion from this year through 2029 to develop technologies in three major areas: safe removal of residual hydrogen and dismantling of key components; development of power generation systems using reused hydrogen storage tanks and fuel cells; and recovery of permanent magnets from end-of-life drive motors and conversion into high-purity rare earth materials.
4 hours ago
China's NEV Production Boosts NdFeB Demand in Automotive Sector, Up 18.8% YoY
5 hours ago
China's NEV Production Boosts NdFeB Demand in Automotive Sector, Up 18.8% YoY
Read More
China's NEV Production Boosts NdFeB Demand in Automotive Sector, Up 18.8% YoY
China's NEV Production Boosts NdFeB Demand in Automotive Sector, Up 18.8% YoY
[SMM Rare Earth Magnetic Materials Newsflash] Recently, CAAM released data showing that China's NEV production in May 2026 reached 1.554 million units, while total automobile production reached 2.616 million units. Based on the SMM survey and model, NdFeB demand from NEVs in China was 6,641.1 mt in May 2026, and total NdFeB consumption in the automotive industry was 6,945.8 mt, up 18.8% YoY. As of now, the automotive sector remains the largest NdFeB consumer, and its share of total consumption is expected to be approximately 30% in 2026.
5 hours ago
[SMM Rare Earth News Flash] Influenced by news-driven factors, downstr - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)