Why have rare earth prices fallen?

Caroline Messecar, strategic markets editor for Fastmarkets, explores the world of rare earth prices in her opinion piece for ‘The Crucible’ titled ‘Why have rare earth prices fallen?’

Messecar scrutinizes the nearly 70% collapse in rare earth prices over a span of two years, prompting her to question the underlying factors driving this drastic decline.

Key highlights from the article include:

  • An exploration of why investors are struggling to predict rare earth prices despite their significant impact on industries like automotive and energy
  • Comments from industry figures like Amanda Lacaze, Jim Litinsky, and Rahim Suleman highlight the challenge of forecasting rare earth prices accurately
  • The fact that forecasting remains difficult, leading Messecar to analyze potential price drivers
  • Messecar considers factors such as a pause in EV demand, a global economic downturn, market volatility, and geopolitical tensions
  • Weaker EV demand may have influenced prices, the decline cannot solely be attributed to it due to the widespread use of rare earth magnets in various industries
  • A discussion about the global economic downturn as a potential driver, citing oversupply in the rare earth market and increased production quotas in China
  • Questions about whether the economic downturn alone could account for such a significant price drop
  • Market volatility, including a 300% increase in NdPr oxide prices between March 2020 and March 2022, is also examined, considering factors like COVID-19, inflation and industry consolidation
  • The role of geopolitics, particularly in the US-China trade war, as a factor influencing prices

Read the full article here: Why have rare earth prices fallen? – MMTA

Find out about our full suite of rare earth prices and keep to date with all the rare earth news and insights here.

What to read next
The United States convened more than 50 countries in Washington this week for a critical minerals summit that delivered a flurry of new initiatives designed to reshape the geopolitics — and pricing mechanics — of minerals essential to semiconductors, electric vehicles and the defense supply chain.
Fastmarkets has corrected its MB-GD-0001 Gadolinium oxide 99.99%-99.999% fob China, $/kg price, which was published incorrectly.
The US laid out its strongest push yet to reshape global critical minerals supply chains at the inaugural Critical Mineral Ministerial in Washington on Wednesday February 4, where senior officials detailed plans for an allied trade bloc built on reference prices and enforceable price floors – a potential turning point for small, strategically important markets such as tungsten.
A new US initiative to establish a stockpile of critical minerals for the civilian economy could add pressure to already stretched supply, market participants told Fastmarkets on Tuesday February 3 and Wednesday February 4.
Fastmarkets is extending the consultation period for the methodology of MB-LI-0033 lithium hydroxide, battery grade, spot price cif China, Japan & Korea price and MB-LI-0029 lithium carbonate, battery grade, spot prices cif China, Japan & Korea price.
Learn about the recent trends in AI metals costs and their effect on lithium, copper and aluminium prices for energy storage.