BEIJING (Info-RE) 14-Feb-17 Terbium prices have been firming up in China in the past few days underpinned by bullish market expectations caused by relatively small domestic output, government crackdown on illegal rare earths as well as China’s national stockpile buying of rare earths.
Market sources said that 4N terbium oxide is currently available about RMB3,000/kg($437/kg) right now, and some suppliers have raised their offer prices to about RMB3,100-3,150/kg($451-459/kg).
Meanwhile, a number of suppliers are not keen to sell the rare earth oxide for the moment with their anticipations of much higher prices in the days to come.
The supply tightness for terbium oxide has also resulted in the rise in terbium metal prices.
Quoted prices for 99% terbium metal have moved up to about RMB4,000/kg($582/kg) recently and suppliers are not very motivated to sell from stocks about RMB3,900/kg($568/kg) at present.
I'd suggest the high end mag makers are taking advantage of the demise of phosphors to use greater quantities of TbO at cost effective prices given its 2x "strength" over DyO.
In simple terms 1kg TbO is supplanting 2kg DyO into a market that is static at best, putting further pressure on DyO price, which has barely moved despite the excitement elsewhere.
Will be interesting to watch that one play out, but I'll punt TbO suppressing DyO demand, in effect there is another 500tpa DyO "equivalent" available.
NTU Price at posting:
13.0¢ Sentiment: Sell Disclosure: Not Held
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