Prices for key rare earth minerals from China, the source of over 95% of the world’s supply, have continued to move upwards in the past month reaching levels seen in 2008 amid a shortage of supply and the return of steady demand.
This month, industry sources report that prices for cerium oxide (99%, bulk purchases, FOB China), a material used in flat panel polish, have increased to $4.2-4.6/kg, up from $3.4/4.4/kg in mid-January.
Prices for lanthanum oxide (99.9%, bulk, FOB China), used in manufacturing high transparency glass, have increased to $6.50-7.50/kg,...