On July 18, the rare earth index was 381 points, unchanged from yesterday, down 61.90% from its cyclical peak of 1000 points (2011-12-06), and up 40.59% from its lowest point of 271 on September 13, 2015. (Note: Period refers to 2011-12-01 to date).

The average price of Neodymium in rare earth metals declined by 2500 yuan per ton to 412,500 yuan per ton; the average price of dysprosium was 2.4 million yuan per ton; and the average price of praseodymium was 700,000 yuan per ton. The average price of praseodymium and neodymium oxides in rare earth oxides declined by 2,000 yuan/ton to 3.105 million yuan/ton, dysprosium oxide price was 1.91 million yuan/ton, praseodymium oxide price was 3.95 million yuan/ton, and neodymium oxide price declined by 2,000 yuan/ton to 3.125 million yuan/ton. The price of praseodymium and neodymium alloys in rare earth alloys dropped by 2500 yuan per ton to 412,500 yuan per ton, while the average price of dysprosium-iron alloys was 1.91 million yuan per ton.

Recent price declines in rare earth market, domestic rare earth market trading market is general, most commodity prices in the rare earth market are stable, but in the near future, prices of some products in the market have fallen, prices of dysprosium and terbium metals have fallen, prices of praseodymium and neodymium series products have been declining in the near future, supply in the market is normal, and prices of light rare earths have been moving in the near future. The situation is declining. The price fluctuation of rare earth market is related to environmental protection supervision in the whole country. Rare earth production has its particularity, especially the radiation hazard of some products, which makes environmental protection supervision stricter. Under the strict environmental protection inspection, rare earth separation enterprises in many provinces have stopped production, resulting in a general market of rare earth oxides. Recently, the rare earth market has turned to the seller’s market. The manufacturers have reasonable control over sales and are reluctant to sell. Especially for some mainstream rare earth oxides, the supply performance is still tense. The price trend of rare earth market has slightly declined. Recently, large enterprise groups on the market are reluctant to sell. The market trend of rare earth is poor. However, major manufacturers are cautious about the pricing of products.

Recently, the State Environmental Protection Department has made no reduction in its stringent efforts, which has a greater impact on the rare earth industry. The rare earth industry has a low start-up and a cold market. At the recent press conference on macroeconomic operation held by the Development and Reform Commission, Meng Wei, spokesman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), answering reporters’questions on rare earth, said that on the basis of in-depth investigation and scientific demonstration, relevant policies and measures would be put forward to give full play to the special value of rare earth as a strategic resource. Due to the increasingly obvious regulatory effect, the supply of raw ore resources in the upstream of the rare earth industry has shrunk, the demand in the downstream is poor, and the trading market of the rare earth industry has declined.

Rare earth analysts from business associations expect that domestic environmental stringency will not diminish in the near future, coupled with domestic rectification of the order of the rare earth industry, Myanmar restricts exports and reduces supply, but rare earth market transactions are limited in the near future, and some prices in the rare earth market are expected to fall.