As our main product(s) have gone through a re-rate in terms of pricing, I thought I'd refresh my previous NdFeB pricing and compare it to NdPr:
Blue line is NdFeB price evolution (right axis, USD/kg), purple axis is NdPr price (left axis, USD/kg)
These are approximate prices of NdFeB coming out of Japan. A few things to note:
1. NdFeB prices are lagging that of NdPr (with perhaps a quarter?)
2. Although magnets have increased some ~30% (with more to come), we are still only talking perhaps $50 extra for a Tesla Mod 3.
3. As Pol pointed out, this is not currently a risk in terms of PM magnet sales: after all, as long as batteries are the expensive part in an EV, why try and save a few $10s on PM magnets when the loss in efficiency would cost $100s more in battery cost.
Speaking of Tesla - not sure if anyone noticed, but they just entered a binding agreement with an Australian lithium miner. I can't help to wonder if the tentacles of the large EV manufacturers will reach as far as trying to ensure supply of PMs/NdPr (as GM/MP is an example of).
IMO, DYOR
(20min delay)