Prices for key rare earth minerals from China, source of over 95% of the world’s supply, continue to surge in 2011 on the back of export restrictions imposed by the Chinese government, and renewed measures this year to cut down on illegal mining.
Latest prices for cerium oxide (all 99%, large purchases, FOB China, $/kg), a material used in flat panel polish, have assessed at $72-82/kg, up from $ 57-67/kg last month, and...