Rare earths
Overview
Rare earths or rare earth elements (REE) are crucial to modern society, driving innovation across automotives, electronics, renewable energy, healthcare, defence and aerospace, and as a catalyst in industrial and chemical processing.
As demand for highly engineered products continues to grow, manufacturers that rely on rare earths face a limited supply of marketable product outside a handful of Chinese producers.
Argus Rare Earths Analytics and Argus Non-Ferrous Markets address this unique challenge in the rare earths industry by delivering price data and forecasts through on-the-ground expertise and a proven methodology that supports long-term outlooks as well as supply and demand fundamentals.
Rare earths coverage
Argus produces more than 70 price assessments for the 17 rare earth elements, as well as delivering best-in-class data, news and analysis to support your decision making. In addition, the Argus Rare Earths Analytics service also provides market analysis and 10-year forecasts for supply, demand, prices and projects across key rare earths:
- Cerium prices
- Dysprosium prices
- Erbium prices
- Europium prices
- Gadolinium prices
- Lanthanum prices
- Mischmetal prices
- Neodymium prices
- Praseodymium prices
- Praseodymium-neodymium prices
- Samarium prices
- Terbium prices
- Yttrium prices
Latest rare earth news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global rare earth industry.
Graphjet launches Malaysian biomass-to-graphite plant
Graphjet launches Malaysian biomass-to-graphite plant
Singapore, 20 November (Argus) — Nasdaq-listed Graphjet Technology has started operations at its artificial graphite plant in Malaysia, which will produce battery-grade graphite using recycled palm kernel shells (PKS), the firm said on 19 November. Graphjet's facility has the capacity to produce 3,000 t/yr of graphite by recycling up to 9,000 t/yr of PKS, which is sufficient to produce batteries for 40,000 electric vehicles (EVs)/yr. The firm has already received its first shipment of PKS, it said. Graphjet has another artificial graphite production facility planned in US' Nevada, and it plans to produce hard carbon at the Malaysian facility to use as feedstock at the Nevada facility. The Nevada facility is expected to have the capacity to recycle 30,000 t/yr of PKS to produce 10,000 t/yr of battery-grade artificial graphite and is slated to begin production in 2026, said Graphjet in April. China, the dominant producer of graphite, added a number of graphite products into its export licensing scheme at the end of last year. The move back then alarmed its neighbours, Japan and South Korea , which are major battery-producing countries and they have since been looking to reduce their dependency on Chinese graphite. China's graphite flake exports fell by 23pc to 44,103t during January-September following the exports curb, according to Chinese customs data. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan’s iron ore imports fall on year in October
Japan’s iron ore imports fall on year in October
Tokyo, 20 November (Argus) — Japan's iron ore imports in October fell from a year earlier, mostly because of lower domestic steel demand. Japan imported around 7.7mn t of iron ore in October, down by 11pc from a year earlier, according to preliminary data from the country's finance ministry released on 20 November. Imports also fell against the previous month by 13.7pc. Japan's iron ore import cost averaged $111.04, down by 5.2pc on the year. The average yen-denominated cost was ¥16,195/t, down by 7.1pc. Domestic steel demand has been sluggish. Japan's crude steel output in October-December is projected to fall by 1.4pc on the year to 21.3mn t, according to a quarterly forecast by the country's trade and industry ministry. Booked orders of ordinary steel for automobile use in September fell for a ninth straight month by 18.8pc to 564,722t, according to data released by industry group Japan Iron and Steel Federation on 18 November. Booked orders of ordinary steel for construction use also fell by 11.3pc on the year to 651,035t, marking the fourth consecutive month of year-on-year decline. Similarly, booked orders of ordinary steel for industrial machinery and equipment use fell by 28.5pc from a year earlier to 78,073t, marking 21 consecutive months of year-on-year falls. By Yusuke Maekawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan, Peru sign deal to enhance copper supply chain
Japan, Peru sign deal to enhance copper supply chain
Tokyo, 19 November (Argus) — The Japanese and Peruvian governments have signed a strategic partnership to bolster the copper supply chain, with a comprehensive road map to promote bilateral business opportunities for natural resources. This agreement came as Japan accelerates efforts to secure copper supplies, while Peru is a key global copper supplier. The two countries rolled out a comprehensive road map for enhancing political and economic relationships on 17 November. This includes organising an annual bilateral meeting for mining and energy investment as well as conducting joint research on efficient mining operations, such as removal of impurities from copper ores, according to the road map. Unlike conventional initial agreements that are typically signed without a specific closing date, the Japanese-Peruvian road map has set a 10-year timeline that will end by 2033. This seems to reflect Japan's sense of urgency in securing base metal supply including copper. "Japan would like to continue to co-operate with Peru to strengthen the resilience of the supply chain of mineral resources such as copper", said Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba in Peru on 17 November. Japan's current strategic energy plan that was revised in 2021 aims to lift base metal self-sufficiency to 80pc by 2030, up by around 30 percentage points from the 2018 level. But the strategy appears to not be on track, the country's ministry of trade and industry Meti reiterated in late October without disclosing the current rate. Japan appears to be especially concerned about copper supply. Meti forecasts global copper demand to double to around 50mn t in 2035 following the global electrification of applications including electric vehicles, while there will likely be a 10mn t/yr supply shortage. The country's domestic copper ingot demand is forecast to exceed 1.4mn t by 2030, according to Meti, up by 400,000 t from the 2022 level. This is partially attributed to the adoption of more artificial intelligence, it added. Japan is making efforts to diversify copper supply sources, given the deterioration in quality of copper supplied by the world's biggest producer Chile, Meti said. Peru and Argentina are prominent suppliers in the region, according to Meti, adding that Japanese government support is essential for acquiring stakes in upstream operations in those countries, given their higher risks. By Yusuke Maekawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EMR secures funds for new recycling facility
EMR secures funds for new recycling facility
London, 18 November (Argus) — Global recycler European Metal Recycling (EMR) has secured a £3.4mn ($4.3mn) grant from the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) to support a new metals processing facility that will produce aluminium extrusion billet using up to 100pc recycled content, it said today. Led by EMR, the project is also supported by France-based aluminium producer Constellium and automaker Stellantis, as well as surface treatments specialist BCW Treatments, software company Riskoa and Brunel University. The project, named ReCircAl, will enable the manufacture at the planned facility of components made from up to 100pc recycled aluminium at an industrial scale to match the mechanical and durability performance of primary aluminium alloys. It will combine EMR's experience processing end-of-life aluminium and Constellium's knowledge of alloy development, supported by the other project partners. Constellium has previously led an APC-funded project to design, develop and test aluminium automotive components at scale to demonstrate that high-strength alloys with high recycled content can meet or exceed OEM key performance criteria. "This project represents a landmark moment for the aluminium industry and the automotive sector," EMR commercial director Bruce Miller said. "By proving that high-performance automotive components can be produced from recycled materials, we are helping to create a more circular vehicle manufacturing industry in the UK." By Jethro Wookey Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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Understand the drivers of rare earths with our April quarterly update video covering neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium, lutetium, yttrium and more.
WhitePaper - 04/02/24Diversifying rare earths: Building a market, not just a supply chain
The race is on to develop new rare earth supply chains outside China. Read the latest white paper from the Argus team to understand the impact of rising geopolitical tensions and demand from the energy transition.
