Latest Update in the SMM Rare Earth Oxides Market

Overseas rare earth prices mostly edged lower this week, with sluggish trading. TSMC is evaluating rare earth-free equipment solutions to address supply risks, Japan's yttrium inventories are critically low, and its exports to China plunged 98%. Malaysia approved unprocessed rare earth exports for the first time, the US is advancing construction of a $375 million processing facility, and Greenland passed a seabed mining ban. Export controls continue to force a restructuring of global supply chains.

[SMM Recycled Rare Earth Weekly Review: Scrap Pr-Nd Continues to Pull Back, Overall Market Trading Remains Subdued] Overall, scrap Pr-Nd prices continued to decline this week. Recycling enterprises pushed for lower prices and limited purchase volumes, with quotes adjusted downward for consecutive sessions. Suppliers showed low willingness to sell, and overall market trading remained subdued. In the short term, scrap Pr-Nd prices are expected to consolidate on a weak note. The subsequent trend will still depend on whether the oxide side can stop falling and whether recycling enterprises' purchase willingness recovers.

[SMM Rare Earth Weekly Review: Pr-Nd declines with center moving down; gadolinium falls while holmium rises, showing divergent trends] Gadolinium oxide prices were lowered to 178,000-182,000 yuan/mt, falling in tandem with Pr-Nd and leading the declines. Suppliers' willingness to sell increased while buyers stayed on the sidelines, leaving transactions sluggish. Holmium oxide prices were raised to 660,000-665,000 yuan/mt, with the holmium segment strengthening against the trend and oxides leading the gains. Whether transactions can follow through remains to be seen.

[SMM Rare Earth Daily Review: Rare earth prices diverge, market trading remains sluggish] In the short term, Pr-Nd series is likely to move sideways amid the tug-of-war between losses and weak transactions, with stabilization depending on the pace of downstream order releases. For medium-heavy rare earths, after the sharp jump in erbium prices, attention should be paid to whether transactions can sustain the gains and whether there is a risk of pullback. The terbium series, with both ends declining in tandem, warrants monitoring of whether the downtrend continues. The holmium series, after consecutive gains, also requires transaction support. Dysprosium and gadolinium are likely to consolidate on a subdued note in the short term.

[SMM Rare Earth Morning Meeting Summary: Pr-Nd Continues to Pull Back, Terbium Metal Weakens Again] Pr-Nd oxide offer centers continued to move lower, with higher-priced resources gradually loosening; dysprosium oxide offers remained consolidated; terbium oxide prices stabilized at low levels.