AlNiCo magnets do not have a widely published market price index. The AlNiCo magnet price is therefore commonly evaluated with reference to the prices of its principal alloying elements, particularly Nickel and Cobalt.
The cobalt and nickel contents of different AlNiCo grades range from approximately 0–42 wt% and 13–28 wt%, respectively. Changes in these raw material prices can therefore have different levels of influence on the material costs of different grades.
Most AlNiCo magnets are produced through the casting process. For many cast grades, recycled nickel and cobalt recovered from production scrap or AlNiCo materials with known compositions are commonly used as raw materials. High-coercivity grades such as AlNiCo 8 and AlNiCo 9 may have more specific requirements for raw material composition and process control.
The price movement of recycled nickel and cobalt does not necessarily match primary metal prices directly, but it can still follow the broader market. Nickel and cobalt price trends can therefore be used as reference indicators when reviewing changes in the AlNiCo magnet price, rather than as a direct price index.
The actual AlNiCo magnet price also depends on the material grade, casting or sintering process, magnet shape, machining requirements, production yield, order quantity, and other manufacturing costs.
