Cerium oxide prices to remain high

Officials at Molycorp Inc., Greenwood Village, Colo., the largest U.S. producer of rare-earth metals, posted a narrower net loss and said they expect prices of rare earths to remain high as China continues to restrict exports, according to a March 9 Chicago Tribune article.

Cerium oxide, one of the 17 elements that compose rare earth metals, is the most efficient polishing material for glass, and is used as a raw material in the glass melting process.

Molycorp is one of a handful of Western rare earth suppliers that have been scrambling to boost production to plug a supply gap created last year when No. 1 producer China sharply cut back its exports of the metals, according to the article.

Read a Glass Magazine article on how the scarcity of cerium oxide is affecting the glass and glazing industry.

Read a related article.

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