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.
Sherritt 1Q nickel, cobalt production dips
Sherritt 1Q nickel, cobalt production dips
Houston, 15 May (Argus) — Canadian miner Sherritt International said it produced less nickel and cobalt in the first quarter from a year earlier but expects to boost production in the second half of 2025. Sherritt's nickel production dropped by 18pc to 2,947 tonnes (t) and cobalt production decreased by 6pc to 323t from the same quarter last year. In February, the company raised its nickel and cobalt guidance for 2025, which remains unchanged despite lower first quarter production. Operations at the company's Moa nickel and cobalt project in Cuba has faced increased pressure from US sanctions, according to Sherritt chief executive Leon Binedell. Sherritt started the second phase of an expansion project at Moa, which the company expects to ramp-up in the second half of the year to full capacity. The company expects higher average realized cobalt price in the second quarter. In the first quarter, the company's average realized price for nickel rose by 1pc to C$9.98/lb while cobalt fell by 8pc to C$13.29/lb compared to the first quarter of 2024. Sherritt sold 3,439t of nickel in the quarter, down 15pc from a year earlier, while cobalt sales were up 26pc to 456t. Demand drove sales above production volumes, according to the company. Sherritt reported a C$40.6mn loss in the first quarter, slightly down from the C$40.5mn loss in the first quarter of 2024. Revenue rose 33pc to C$38.4mn. By Reagan Patrowicz Send comments and request more information at [email protected] Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Ferbasa ferro-alloys exports down, domestic sales up
Ferbasa ferro-alloys exports down, domestic sales up
London, 15 May (Argus) — Brazilian ferro-alloy producer Ferbasa upped its domestic sales on the year in the first quarter, but exports fell as a result of tariff and logistical challenges. Ferbasa produces high and low-carbon ferro-chrome, ferro-silicon, high-purity ferro-silicon and chromium for the steel industry. Total ferro-alloy sales in the first quarter rose by 10.2pc year on year to 69,563t, supported by restocking in Brazil's steel sector. Sales in Brazil reached 38,682t, up by nearly 30pc. Exporrt sales dropped by 7.3pc on the year to 30,851t, and were down by 20.5pc on the quarter because of tariffs, market uncertainty and logistical challenges. Ferro-silicon market participants are on guard because of US anti-dumping moves and protective tariffs globally, Ferbasa said. The company's total ferro-alloy production fell by 1.3pc year on year to 75,821t in January-March. Production of chromium alloys fell by 1.8pc to 50,372t. Silicon alloy production fell by 0.2pc on the year to 25,491t, but was up by 20pc on the quarter. First-quarter revenue stood at R$549mn ($97.62mn), up by 7.9pc on higher revenues from ferro-alloys and a more favourable dollar exchange rate. The company said ferro-alloy production costs rose in the first quarter, singling out electricity and chrome ore. Ferbasa said ferro-chrome production in China has slowed because of excess supply and low prices. In January, domestic Chinese prices for 50pc high-carbon ferro-chrome fell to a five-year low of $0.77/lb ex-works, Argus data show. But stainless steel production has risen this year, the company said. By Cristina Belda Send comments and request more information at [email protected] Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
KGHM's 1Q copper output falls on shutdowns
KGHM's 1Q copper output falls on shutdowns
London, 15 May (Argus) — Polish copper producer KGHM's output fell by 6pc on the year to 169,000t in January-March, as planned maintenance at its Glogow II smelter and the sale of a Canadian mine offset a jump in production at Chile's Sierra Gorda mine. The company's Polish assets produced 99,400t of copper concentrate, while electrolytic copper production reached 134,000t — both in line with company targets. Production at KGHM's 55pc-owned Sierra Gorda mine in Chile rose by 22pc to 20,800t, aided by higher ore grades and increased recovery rates. But copper output at KGHM International — responsible for assets in North America — fell by 10pc to 14,400t, following the sale in February of Canada's McCreedy West mine and lower recovery rates at the US' Robinson mine. KGHM said its production was "in line with budget targets", and that its diversified sales strategy had supported revenues, which rose by 8pc to 8.9bn zlotys ($2.35bn). Despite the drop in overall production, revenue was underpinned by a steady rise in copper prices, owing to tight concentrate supply and logistical disruptions. The three-month LME copper contract averaged $9,411/t in January-March, up from $8,537/t a year earlier. The producer plans to invest over 3.8bn zlotys in 2025, with a continued focus on underground development and shaft sinking. By Chris Welch Send comments and request more information at [email protected] Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Global battery demand rises close to 1TWh in 2024: IEA
Global battery demand rises close to 1TWh in 2024: IEA
Singapore, 15 May (Argus) — Global battery demand across electric vehicle (EV) and storage applications rose to almost 1TWh in 2024, according to energy watchdog the IEA, in its latest report. Demand was largely driven by EV sales growth, with EV battery demand growing by more than 25pc on the year to over 950GWh, mainly propelled by electric cars which accounted for over 85pc of EV battery demand, said the IEA in its EV Outlook 2025 . The almost 1TWh of demand is expected to more than triple to over 3TWh in 2030 under the IEA's stated policies scenario (Steps), which is based on countries' prevailing policies , with more demand from electric trucks despite electric cars still making up the majority of demand. EV battery demand rose by more than 30pc on the year in China, and currently takes up 59pc of total global EV battery demand. US demand has also grown, with the country taking up 13pc of the total share, on par with the EU. The IEA expects critical minerals supply surplus to persist over the next few years but cautioned that depressed prices could dissuade future investments and lead to supply shortages for lithium and nickel by 2030. "It will take about a decade before recycling has a significant impact on reducing primary mineral demand," said the IEA, citing feedstock limitations. Recent raw material prices for battery recyclers in China, the largest battery recycling market, remain higher than their battery recycling yields such as recycled lithium, nickel and cobalt, a Chinese battery recycler told Argus . Domestic battery recycling plants operating rates are "not high," the battery recycler said, with very thin activity in the domestic black mass market. Excessive battery capacity Global battery cell manufacturing capacity grew by almost 30pc in 2024 to 3.3TWh, more than triple the battery demand, according to the report. South Korean battery manufacturers accounted for over 400GWh of overseas battery manufacturing capacity in 2024, much higher than the 60GWh from Japanese manufacturers and 30GWh from Chinese manufacturers. South Korea's battery manufacturing is poised to further expand to more than 1TWh in 2030, almost double that of Chinese manufacturers, if all announced projects materialise. Global manufacturing capacity could grow to about 6.5TWh in 2030, about double the demand projected under IEA's Steps scenario, if all committed projects are realised. This would also entail China's share of global manufacturing capacity weakening from 85pc in 2024 to two-thirds by 2030. LFP battery share rises Lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries made up nearly half of the global EV battery market in 2024, said the IEA. Nearly all electric car LFP batteries sold in Europe or US were produced in China, which has a "de facto monopoly", said the IEA, with LFP becoming more attractive to European original equipment manufacturers looking to cut production costs. South Korean battery makers' market share in the EU fell to 60pc last year, down from 80pc in 2022, displaced by Chinese battery producers because the chemistry of LFP makes it more competitive, according to IEA. But top South Korean battery makers — LG Energy Solution , Samsung SDI , SK On — have all unveiled plans to mass produce EV LFP batteries over the coming years, looking to compete in the space. Japanese battery makers meanwhile saw their US market share fall to around 48pc, eroded by South Korea. South Korea took up 35pc of US market share last year, up from 20pc in 2022. Japanese domestic LFP development is also facing challenges, with Japanese carmaker Nissan recently cancelling a LFP plant in Kyushu as it goes through a restructure. LFP's penetration in the southeast Asia, Brazil and India markets is rising even quicker, with LFP battery electric car shares surpassing 50pc in each of the countries in 2024, according to the report. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at [email protected] Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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