BEIJING (Metal-Pages) 25-Jan-13. Rare earths prices in China are stabilising with little business reported in the spot market. Chinese New Year (February 10) is coming soon and participants will be on holiday. Thus, consumers are reluctant to restock material but are monitoring market direction.
Many suppliers are suspending production and leaving for holiday now. In this case, supply is relatively tight in the spot market.
Market sources reckon the rare earth market will remain dull with unchanged prices in the run-up to Chinese New Year (February 10).
Praseodymium/neodymium
China's praseodymium/neodymium metal market is quiet due to low demand from downstream consumers. Suppliers and buyers are in standoff. Praseodymium/neodymium metal prices are stable at RMB390,000-400,000/tonne.
Business is still on the Chinese praseodymium-neodymium oxide spot market because most smelters in downstream industries have stopped or reduced production and are not buying.
Praseodymium-neodymium oxide is being offered at RMB280,000-310,000/tonne.
Dysprosium
Dysprosium oxide prices are stabilising with thin trading. Suppliers are holding offer prices at RMB2,000-2,100/kg, but consumers disagree over prices and are monitoring market direction
Europium
Europium oxide business remains thin in China with unchanged prices. Market sources said the europium oxide market will not improve owing to sluggish demand from the downstream fluorescent powder industry.
Suppliers are holding their offer prices for europium oxide 99.9% firm at RMB5,000-5,200/tonne.
Terbium
Terbium oxide market is flat with thin trading owing to a lack of consumer buying. Suppliers are quoting as high as RMB4,000-4,200/kg for terbium oxide 99%.
However, consumers interested in restocking material for Chinese New Year (February 10) intend to buy terbium oxide 99% at RMB3,700-3,800/kg
Lanthanum
Lanthanum oxide business is thin on the Chinese spot market as optical glass producers, the main downstream consumers, have postponed buying. Consumers are reluctant to buy at higher prices.
99% grade lanthanum oxide prices are in the range of RMB43,000-45,000/tonne, while prices for 99.999% high purity lanthanum oxide are at RMB90,000/tonne.
