Price

Yttrium Pricing and Market Data

Yttrium oxide prices range from $8-15/kg, moderately priced among rare earths. Prices peaked above $150/kg during the 2010-2011 crisis. The market is ~8,000 tonnes/year, making it one of the larger rare earth markets by volume (yttrium is more abundant than most rare earths). Asian Metals provides the primary pricing data. Yttrium is classified with the rare earth elements despite being a transition metal because it co-occurs in the same ores and has similar chemical properties.

Pricing Mechanisms

Yttrium is priced using benchmarks from Asian Metals. Yttrium 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 Yttrium market has been shaped by the following key events:

Price Drivers

Key factors influencing Yttrium prices include production levels in China (95% of global supply), demand from led and display phosphors and yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramics, inventory levels, energy costs, and government policy actions such as export restrictions or strategic stockpiling.

Spot vs. Contract Pricing

The Yttrium 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 10-20 $/kg oxide.