Purchasing guide
Rare-earth pricing and magnet quotations
A rare-earth price reference is one input to a magnet quotation, not the price of the finished part. EMTXI compares offers against the requested material, geometry, process and supply terms. For recurring programmes, any material adjustment needs an agreed reference and calculation method. This page explains that method; it is not a live market-price feed.
Identify the reference material
NdPr refers to neodymium-praseodymium; Dy and Tb refer to dysprosium and terbium. A reference may describe an oxide, a metal or another specified material form. These are not interchangeable price series. Define purity, unit, currency, market basis, publisher and the observation date or averaging period.
USGS publishes rare-earth statistics and annual summaries that provide market context. Annual reported or estimated averages are not executable spot offers or a current monthly purchase price. If a contract uses a commercial assessment, confirm access, publication rights and how both parties can verify the same data.
Separate the material adjustment from the part price
A finished magnet quotation also reflects the agreed manufacturing route, geometry, yield, coating, magnetisation, inspection, packaging and commercial terms. Ask which elements are fixed and which can change. Avoid applying an entire reference-price movement to the entire part price unless that is the explicitly agreed mechanism.
The magnetic grade suffix alone does not state an exact Dy or Tb content. Do not infer a material weighting from the grade name. Any pricing mechanism that depends on composition or consumption needs the producer's agreed basis and supporting information, with confidentiality handled separately.
Agree the rules before the first release
| Term | What the agreement should identify |
|---|---|
| Baseline | Reference series, material form, currency, unit and starting period |
| Adjustment | Included cost portion, calculation method and applicable releases |
| Timing | Observation period, averaging method and review frequency |
| Currency | Whether exchange-rate changes are included and which reference applies |
| Data gaps | Treatment of missing, corrected or discontinued reference values |
| Other changes | Separate treatment of freight, duties, tooling and specification changes |
The mechanism should state how increases and decreases are handled. It should also distinguish an agreed forecast from a firm order and identify when an adjusted price becomes binding. There is no universal EMTXI formula: the commercial terms are confirmed for the programme.
Compare offers on the same basis
Record the quoted specification, quantity, validity, delivery terms and included documentation before comparing prices. Keep recurring price, setup charges and logistics visible separately. Use the landed-cost guide to organise the comparison without assuming that a particular country is always cheaper.
For a volume programme, the useful outcome is a documented quotation and a repeatable review method. For monthly reviews, agree access to the reference data and the right to use or share it with the parties to the programme.
Buyer questions
Are current NdPr, Dy and Tb prices published here?
No. This guide does not publish live prices or claim monthly updates. A quotation identifies its validity and the material-price assumptions or reference series used, where an indexed arrangement is agreed.
Does a fall in an oxide index reduce the whole part price by the same percentage?
Not automatically. The agreed formula determines which cost portion changes. Processing, yield, tooling, coating, inspection, logistics and other agreed charges are separate considerations. The reference material must also match the contracted mechanism.
Can two producers be compared against one reference?
Yes, if both accept a clearly defined common basis. Compare the applicable material form, currency, unit, baseline period and adjustment dates as well as the finished-part specification. Different formulas must be made explicit.
Sources and further reading
EMTXI · Reviewed
Your next step
Send the part specification, forecast and any proposed material-indexing terms.