looks like demand for rare earths picking up, page-25

For those that are interested

COPPER UP MEANS DEMAND IS INCREASING

COPPER UP MEANS - ACCORDING TO JACK, DEMAND FOR RARE EARTH PRODUCTS WILL INCREASE

Below is the proof

Info from internet

Today's current copper price LME

3.2848 + 0.56%

High: 3.3165Low: 3.2512
Price (USD) per pound


Higher Pr/Nd prices reported, suppliers bullish
BEIJING (Metal-Pages) 17-Feb-14. Higher prices for praseodymium/neodymium metal have been reported in the market in the past few days with suppliers marking up prices on support from increasing praseodymium/neodymium oxide prices as well as bullish market expectations.

Market sources said that some parcels of 99% praseodymium/neodymium metal have been reported at RMB400,000-405,000/tonne recently, and suppliers have raised offers to RMB410,000-420,000/tonne

However, prices of the rare earth metal were holding at about RMB390,000-395,000/tonne last week.

A source at a southern producer told Metal-Pages that the company has sold some praseodymium/neodymium metal at RMB400,000-405,000/tonne.

“Praseodymium/neodymium prices have been on the rise recently, and are likely to stay firm in the near future,” an official at the company said, adding that some downstream NdFeB producers are still interested in restocking metal.

“Some suppliers have raised their offers to RMB420,000-425,000/tonne in the past few days, and it is hard to obtain the metal at less than RMB400,000/tonne now,” an executive at another southern supplier said.

The source said that prices of about RMB405,000-410,000/tonne are accepted by some suppliers.

“On support from tight availability, praseodymium/neodymium prices are likely to continue rising in the days to come,” he predicted.

Dysprosium oxide prices have firmed during the past few days and some business has been done.

Market sources said that 99% dysprosium oxide prices have moved up slightly to about RMB1,700-1,750/kg, compared to below RMB1,700/kg in the past few weeks.

A source at a southern producer said the dysprosium oxide market has seen more activity recently as some buyers are interested in buying material.

“Some buyers want to buy dysprosium oxide even though many market players are cautious about market direction due to large domestic stocks,” an official at the company said.

The official said that prices of about RMB1,720-1,740/kg are accepted by some buyers and suppliers now.

“Some consumers are keen about to restock material in line with their operational needs,” an executive at a southern supplier said. “Meanwhile, some buyers are also preparing for the expected government stockpile buying of rare earths,” he said.

The executive reckoned that dysprosium oxide prices have slightly increased in the past few days. “It is hard to say how much the prices could move up in the days to come because of relatively domestic stocks,” he said.

Meanwhile, some market players are still expecting the government stockpile buying of rare earths to support prices, with dysprosium oxide involved. However, no further details about th stockpile have been released recently.

-By Margaret Xue in Beijing ([email protected])