According to customs data, in September 2025, China's rare earth imports were 6,864.7 tons, increased by 36.73% month-on-month, decreased by 36.46% year-on-year; the import value was 1.0 billion yuan, increased by 26.58% month-on-month, decreased by 9.91% year-on-year; the rare earth exports were 4,000.3 tons, decreased by 30.93% month-on-month, increased by 4.32% year-on-year; the export value was 430 million yuan, increased by 10.26% month-on-month, increased by 95.45% year-on-year.
This indicates that the month-on-month increase in rare earth import volume exceeded that of the import value, suggesting that the average import price of rare earth products in September was higher than in August; the year-on-year decline in rare earth import volume was greater than that of the import value, suggesting that the average import price of rare earth products in September was higher than in August last year. The rare earth export volume in September showed a significant month-on-month decline, but the export value rose, indicating that the average export price of rare earth products in September was higher than in August; the rare earth export volume in September saw a small year-on-year increase, while the export value experienced a substantial year-on-year rise, indicating that the average export price of rare earth products in September was significantly higher than in August last year.
According to CTIA GROUP LTD Online, the price trends of mainstream light and heavy rare earth products in China for September 2025 showed divergence: praseodymium-neodymium prices experienced a gradual decline, while terbium prices rose initially and then fell, with end-of-month prices slightly lower than those at the beginning of the month. In terms of average prices, in September 2025, the average price of praseodymium oxide was 642,826 yuan per ton, increased by 9.24% month-on-month, increased by 50.11% year-on-year; the average price of neodymium oxide was 641,435 yuan per ton, increased by 9.90% month-on-month, increased by 49.78% year-on-year; the average price of praseodymium-neodymium oxide was 577,652 yuan per ton, increased by 1.33% month-on-month, increased by 36.39% year-on-year; the average price of praseodymium-neodymium metal was 714,348 yuan per ton, increased by 2.45% month-on-month, increased by 36.18% year-on-year; and the average price of terbium oxide was 7,232 yuan per kilogram, increased by 2.25% month-on-month, increased by 25.25% year-on-year.
Rare earth elements refer to a group of 17 elements in the periodic table, consisting of the lanthanide series (atomic numbers 57-71, including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and 15 other elements), as well as scandium and yttrium. They are named "rare earth" due to their low abundance and scattered distribution in the Earth's crust, though their actual reserves are not scarce, with main minerals including monazite and bastn?site. Rare earths possess unique physicochemical properties, such as excellent magnetism, optical properties, and catalytic capabilities, and are broadly applied in high-tech and industrial fields. For example, neodymium is used to manufacture high-performance permanent magnets, widely applied in electric vehicles and wind turbines; cerium is used in catalysts to promote automotive exhaust purification; europium and terbium are used in phosphorescent materials to enhance display colors.
