According to Technavio, the rare earth metals market is expected to undergo explosive growth by 2018.There are 17 rare earths, but the so-called “magnet metals,” neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr), have attracted the most attention in 2017.
“Attention investors: China is tightening its grips on the rare earth industry forcing plant closures on illegal mining.” (12/12-17) Adamas Intelligence notes that illegal rare earths production in China appears to have declined in 2017, “suggesting that a substantial share of illegal output in past years may have been the result of overproduction by authorized producers, many of which are currently operating under the microscope of central government inspectors.”
Neodymium and praseodymium demand represented 14 percent of total global rare earths demand in 2017, and that amount is expected to increase to over 24 percent by 2027.“The use of permanent magnet motors in new vehicle designs released in 2018 will be an interesting area to watch, more and more models become reliant on permanent magnet designs".
