North American dysprosium market inactive, prices soft
2014-02-03 22:54:21 [Print]
NEW YORK (Asian Metal) 3 Feb 14 - Prices for dysprosium oxide 99%min are soft at around USD460-480/kg d.d.p. Sources conveyed a quiet market with few transactions occurring for the material. Many associated the recent weakness in the material to less downstream activity. The material is still recovering from record high prices set in mid-2011 and seems likely to continue trending slowly downwards. Prices are expected to remain soft for the coming days.
A North American trader of dysprosium oxide 99%min is currently at around USD460-480/kg d.d.p. The source revealed that he recently sold 500kg in two separate deals to North American and European downstream users for USD460/kg d.d.p. and USD465/kg d.d.p. He illustrated a soft price for the material.
The source said, “Demand has been flat, but there is just not enough demand to meet the level of supply. Prices are still elevated and downstream users simply aren’t purchasing ahead. I expect we’ll see a slight uptick in activity after the Chinese New Year, but it will only be temporary.”
A North American distributor of dysprosium oxide 99%min is offering at around USD460-470/kg d.d.p. The source revealed that demand has been sporadic for the material, with most transactions selling for smaller volumes than average. He admitted not selling for roughly 2 weeks, and attributed the softness to less activity in the ceramics, glass, and magnet industries.
The source explained, “Prices for dysprosium oxide 99%min are still elevated in comparison to where they probably should be. End users purchasing magnets have hinted at switching to alternative materials to replace the benefits of adding dysprosium metal 99%min as well. Sales of the material are sporadic and often at low to medium sized volumes, we don’t expect a big change until later in the year when demand should pick up slightly.”
A North American trader of dysprosium oxide 99%min is currently at around USD460-480/kg d.d.p. The source revealed that he recently sold 500kg in two separate deals to North American and European downstream users for USD460/kg d.d.p. and USD465/kg d.d.p. He illustrated a soft price for the material.
The source said, “Demand has been flat, but there is just not enough demand to meet the level of supply. Prices are still elevated and downstream users simply aren’t purchasing ahead. I expect we’ll see a slight uptick in activity after the Chinese New Year, but it will only be temporary.”
A North American distributor of dysprosium oxide 99%min is offering at around USD460-470/kg d.d.p. The source revealed that demand has been sporadic for the material, with most transactions selling for smaller volumes than average. He admitted not selling for roughly 2 weeks, and attributed the softness to less activity in the ceramics, glass, and magnet industries.
The source explained, “Prices for dysprosium oxide 99%min are still elevated in comparison to where they probably should be. End users purchasing magnets have hinted at switching to alternative materials to replace the benefits of adding dysprosium metal 99%min as well. Sales of the material are sporadic and often at low to medium sized volumes, we don’t expect a big change until later in the year when demand should pick up slightly.”
Dysprosium Oxide 99.5%min FOB China
Unit:USD/kg
China dysprosium oxide producers' sales to production ratio statistics by province by month
Unit: %
