International price of rare metals keep decreasing mainly due to slow demand for semiconductor and liquid crystal panel. Antimony and rare earth price decreases when the supply increases before Chinese New Year. The price is likely to keep weak when the demand slows in Asia during Chinese New Year holiday.

Indium, which is used for transparent electrode of liquid crystal panel, is around USD 550 per kilogram. A source of trader in Tokyo said the actual price is less than that and domestic makers reduce the price under adjustment in liquid crystal panel market.

Gallium, which is material of compound semiconductor, is less than USD 550 per kg compared with USD 1,000 in early 2011. A maker source said the demand is slow for backlight of liquid crystal panel television.

Antimony, is used for flame retardant, is around USD 12,000 per tonne. The price is a year low when Chinese makers are still adjusting the inventory under slow export for Europe and some of the suppliers liquidate the material at lower price before Chinese New Year.

Neodymium price is around USD 250 per kg, which is USD 50 lower than the level in first week of December 2011. Chinese stock holders apparently liquidate the metal at lower price when Chinese government announced new system to control domestic rare earth trading severer. Cerium oxide also decreased to USD 54.5 per kg, which is a third of peak.