Rare earth prices to peak next year?

United States – Many professional reports published in recent weeks foresee a downtrend in rare earth metals prices in the medium term.

After a prolonged period of rising values, experts believe a peak will be reached in 2013, after which they expect improving technologies to result in falling prices.

Volumes entering the market could also be set to increase. Two mines in the USA from where rare earth minerals have been extracted in the past could be reopened this year. This fact, coupled with higher volumes of recycled e-waste, could help push down prices for rare earth metals, experts believe.