Price

Samarium Pricing and Market Data

Samarium oxide trades at $8-15/kg, moderately priced among rare earths. The SmCo magnet market adds significant value: finished SmCo magnets sell for $100-500/kg depending on grade and specification. The samarium market is small (~2,500 tonnes/year) with pricing reported by Asian Metals. Defense procurement drives a significant share of SmCo magnet demand, making samarium supply a military security concern.

Pricing Mechanisms

Samarium is priced using benchmarks from Asian Metals. Samarium pricing operates through a combination of exchange-based benchmarks, price reporting agency assessments, bilateral negotiation, and long-term offtake contracts. The specific mechanism depends on product form, grade, and the buyer-seller relationship.

Price History and Notable Market Events

The Samarium market has been shaped by the following key events:

Price Drivers

Key factors influencing Samarium prices include production levels in China (62% of global supply), demand from samarium-cobalt permanent magnets and defense and aerospace magnets, inventory levels, energy costs, and government policy actions such as export restrictions or strategic stockpiling.

Spot vs. Contract Pricing

The Samarium market features both spot transactions and longer-term contracts. Spot prices reflect current conditions and are more volatile, while multi-year offtake agreements provide supply security for both producers and consumers. Current spot pricing is in the range of 10-18 $/kg oxide.