What are their prices?
The first point to note about Rare Earths prices is that there is significant variance in the relative market value for selected Rare Earths oxides. Secondly, the price of Rare Earths depends on the purity level, which is largely set by the specifications for each application.
The table below shows the average annual price for a 'standard' 99% purity of individual elements and for the generic composite of Rare Earths equivalent to the Rare Earths distribution at Mt Weld. Prices are quoted in US$/kg on an FOB China basis. Note that higher purity oxides and other value added properties will attract higher prices than those shown.
| Rare Earth Oxide |
Mt Weld Distribution |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
Q4 2008 |
Q4 2009 |
08/02/10 |
| Lanthanum Oxide |
25.50% |
3.44 |
8.71 |
4.88 |
8.45 |
5.43 |
6.30 |
| Cerium Oxide |
46.74% |
3.04 |
4.56 |
3.88 |
4.60 |
4.11 |
4.60 |
| Neodymium Oxide |
18.50% |
30.24 |
31.90 |
19.12 |
18.18 |
18.38 |
28.60 |
| Praseodymium Oxide |
5.32% |
29.05 |
29.48 |
18.03 |
18.02 |
17.91 |
26.70 |
| Samarium Oxide |
2.27% |
3.60 |
5.20 |
3.40 |
4.80 |
4.75 |
3.40 |
| Dysprosium Oxide |
0.124% |
89.10 |
118.49 |
115.67 |
112.20 |
112.31 |
161.00 |
| Europium Oxide |
0.443% |
323.90 |
481.92 |
492.92 |
500.80 |
490.00 |
510.00 |
| Terbium Oxide |
0.068% |
590.40 |
720.77 |
361.67 |
515.40 |
360.00 |
490.00 |
| Av. Mt Weld Composition |
|
11.59 |
14.87 |
10.32 |
11.45 |
10.32 |
13.48 |
Note: Mt Weld distribution totals 98.9%, the balance is made up of Gadolinium, Holmium, Erbium and Yttrium oxides. Regular pricing information is not available for these metals.
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