稀土被誉为"工业维生素"，因为具有丰富的光、电、磁、超导、催化活性等优异性能，稀土被广泛用于尖端科技领域和军工领域，成为一种不可替代的高新技术和军事战略元素。
　　然而，长期以来，我国的稀土都处于"贱卖"的位置。与1998年稀土产品出口配额制度启动时相比，中国稀土出口量增长了10倍，但价格却降低了36%。
　　目前稀土价格逐年下降的趋势得以控制，但仍低于1985年的水平。而产能过剩、无序竞争导致的低价出口却是长期以来失态发展导致的。
　　我国的稀土工业发展建设已经有50年了，但是但由于科技界、企业界对于知识产权保护的意识薄弱，本来只在包头、上海、珠江三个国营稀土大厂推广的分离技术，迅速扩散到地方和私营企业。建厂达几十个之多，生产能力达12-15万吨，大于全世界的需求量10万吨。
　　我国著名的"稀土之父"、中国科学院院士徐光宪认为，上述情况"造成了供过于求，人为压低稀土价格。使全国稀土行业面临无利的艰难困境"。
　　根据8月20日最新行情，纯度在99%-99.9%的氧化澜的价格只有2万-2.3万元/吨，氧化钐在每吨1.7万左右；稍贵一点的氧化镨和氧化钕也只能卖到每吨8万多元。
　　而氧化铈只有1.4-1.6万元/吨，相当于每公斤氧化铈只能卖到16块钱，而猪肉价格都是18元/公斤。一般的工业用沙土的价格也在1100元/吨-1300元/吨之间，稀土价格与真正的土差价只有十几倍而已。
　　我国出口企业之间的恶性竞争，使宝贵的稀土短线产品钕、铽、镝、铕等低价外销，而铈、镧、钇等大量积压，企业在微利线上挣扎。

　　Rare earth is known as "industrial vitamin", because it is rich in light, electricity, magnetic, superconducting, catalytic activity and other outstanding properties, rare earth is widely used in cutting-edge science and technology and military fields, become an irreplaceable high-tech and military strategic elements.

　　However, for a long time, Chinas rare earth are in a "cheap" position. When compared with the 1998 quota system for rare earth products export quota system, Chinas rare earth export volume increased by 10 times, but the price has been reduced by 36%.

　　At present, the price of rare earth has been controlled, but it is still below the level of 1985. But overcapacity, disorderly competition in export at a low price is a long time loss caused by the development of.

　　Chinas rare earth industry development and construction has been 50 years, but due to the scientific community and business circles for the protection of intellectual property rights consciousness weak, originally only in Baotou, Shanghai and the Pearl River three state of rare earth giant promotion of separation technology, quickly spread to the local and private enterprises. Plant up to several dozen, production capacity of 12-15 million tons, more than the worlds demand for 100000 tons.

　　Chinas famous rare earth father, Chinese Academy of Sciences Xu Guangxian believes that the above situation, resulting in oversupply, artificially low prices of rare earth. To make the national rare earth industry is facing a difficult dilemma".

　　According to the August 20, the latest market purity in 99%-99.9% oxidation of LAN price only 2 million - 230 million yuan / ton, samarium oxide at about 1.7 million per ton; slightly more expensive point of oxide, praseodymium and neodymium oxide can only sell 80000 yuan per ton.

　　While the cerium oxide only 1.4-1.6 million / ton, equivalent to 16 dollars per kilogram of cerium oxide can only be sold, and pork prices are 18 yuan / kg. Generally the price of industrial sand is also in the 1100 yuan / ton -1300 yuan / ton, the price of rare earth and the real difference between the price only ten times more.

　　Vicious competition between Chinas export enterprises, the precious rare earth neodymium products which are in short supply, terbium, dysprosium and europium, low-priced exports, and a large backlog of cerium, lanthanum, yttrium, enterprise profit line in the struggle.