Rare Earth Prices
OTC reference prices for dysprosium, terbium, NdPr, neodymium, samarium and yttrium — sourced from Fastmarkets and Metal Pages. Rare earths are not exchange-traded; prices reflect OTC market conditions and vary by purity, volume and origin.
Unlike base metals such as copper or aluminium, rare earth elements are not traded on centralised commodity exchanges. There is no LME price for dysprosium, no COMEX settlement for neodymium. Rare earths trade over the counter (OTC) — bilaterally, between producers, traders and buyers, with prices set through negotiation.
Reference prices are published by specialist data providers including Fastmarkets (formerly Metal Bulletin) and Metal Pages. These are indicative prices compiled from market surveys and transaction reports — not the binding settlement prices you see on exchange-traded commodities. Actual transaction prices vary depending on purity grade, lot size, origin, payment terms, and whether the buyer can accept Chinese supply.
The OTC nature of the rare earth market is one reason why supply chain transparency is so difficult to achieve — and why OreTrade's verified, documented approach adds particular value for buyers who need to demonstrate compliance with due diligence requirements.
In April 2025, China placed dysprosium, terbium, samarium and yttrium under export licensing controls (Announcement 18). The practical effect has been a sharp reduction in Chinese exports to Western buyers, with licences issued slowly and selectively. The result is a two-tier market: Chinese domestic prices (lower) and outside China prices (significantly higher), particularly for dysprosium and terbium where Chinese production dominates globally.
For any buyer who cannot or will not source from China — due to geopolitical risk, regulatory compliance, ESG requirements, or supply chain resilience — the relevant price is the outside China OTC price, which reflects genuine scarcity in non-Chinese supply.
Explore detailed price data, supply context, and trading information for each rare earth element on OreTrade.
Rare earth elements are traded over the counter (OTC) rather than on centralised exchanges like the LME or COMEX. Production is highly concentrated, volumes are relatively small, and products vary significantly in purity and form. Prices are set through bilateral negotiations, with reference prices published by Fastmarkets and Metal Pages.
As of April 2025, China placed dysprosium, terbium, samarium and yttrium under export licensing controls via Announcement 18. These four elements are the most critical for defence, EV motor, and clean energy applications. The controls have significantly reduced Chinese exports to Western markets and driven outside China prices higher.
Terbium is the most expensive commonly traded rare earth element, at approximately $840 per kilogram for Tb₄O₇ (99.9% purity) as of April 2026. Terbium has very limited global production of around 700 to 800 tonnes per year, almost entirely from China, and is now under export controls.
NdPr oxide is a mixed oxide of neodymium and praseodymium used as the primary feedstock for NdFeB permanent magnets — the foundational technology in EV motors, wind turbine generators, and defence systems. NdPr is the benchmark pricing product in the rare earth market, at approximately $144 per kilogram as of early 2026.
OreTrade connects buyers with verified outside China rare earth producers. Every cargo carries a Digital Product Passport.
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