Rare Earth Market Report January 2012

Buyers are cautious to take positions, with wait-and-see attitude as the rare earth market keep weak in January, 2012. Furthermore, there are few deals of rare earth in the spot market as most suppliers hold off offers during the Spring Festival of late January. As downstream markets, including NdFeB magnets, fluorescent powder, polishing powder, as well as glass and ceramics industries, remain sluggish, consumers are not ready to return to the market, which makes the prices of rare earth slightly go down

The international market is also in lull due to sluggish global economy. Buyers are in no hurry to replenish stocks, only making offers to get where the market is heading. Furthermore, China, the major supplier of rare earths, is on the Spring Festival Holiday in January, and the export market moves slowly. Due to limited Chinese export quotas of HRE, the prices for the materials become stable in international market, and rates for some products even pick up although the demand keeps lackluster temporarily.