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Price Briefing: March 2010

February 25, 2010 - 00:00 GMT

KEYWORDS: Mineral pricing , price rise , recovery

Major pricing developments and analysis. This month: rare earths, rare earths, soda ash, titanium dioxide, calcine alumina, graphite

January and early February saw price rises for many rare earths serving different markets, as a steady demand returns and supply tightens. Neodymium oxide prices (99%) have firmed up from $21/kg, bulk FOB China to $26-28.6/kg whilst praseodymium oxide prices have risen from $21.5/kg, to $24-26.7/kg same basis, both on an increase in demand for magnetic materials. At the same time, lanthanum oxide (99%) prices bounced back to $5.5/kg, bulk FOB China, with one indication as high as $5.8/kg, whilst cerium oxide, 99%, is at levels of $4.2-4.6/kg for bulk purchases FOB China.

By mid February it seemed as though the steep upward price trend may have started to tail off. Reported price indications were rises of under $1/kg for neodymium and praesodymium oxides, but this could have been reflecting a quieter market during the Chinese...

All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. © Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC.

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