Rare earths are relatively abundant but occur in low concentrations and are usually found mixed together with one another, or with radioactive elements such as uranium and thorium. WHY IS IT HARD FOR OTHER COUNTRIES TO RAMP UP PRODUCTION? It invested in Australian producer Lynas (LYC.AX) and had reduced the share of its imports of rare earths from China to 58% by 2018. The episode led Japan, which had relied on China for virtually all of its rare earths, to find alternative suppliers to ease its reliance on China. Japan, the European Union and the United States successfully challenged China's action in a case at the World Trade Organization. Beijing then curbed global exports of rare earths, saying it was trying to curtail pollution and preserve resources. In 2010, China withheld exports of rare earth to Japan during a row over disputed islands. Vietnam, Russia and Brazil are estimated to have just over 20 million metric tonnes each, while India has 6.9 million, Australia has 4.2 million and the United States has 2.3 million metric tonnes. WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE THE MOST RARE EARTHS RESERVES?Ĭhina is estimated to have 44 million metric tonnes of rare earth oxide (ROE) equivalent in reserves, or 34% of the world total, USGS data showed. The United States sources most of its rare earth imports from China, but that dependence has eased to 74% between 20, from 80% during 2014 to 2017. The country exported 20,987 metric tonnes in the first five months of 2023, down 4.4% year-on-year, Chinese customs data showed.Ĭhina exported 48,728 metric tonnes of rare earths in 2022, down 0.4% year-on-year. Processing: China is home to at least 85% of the world's capacity to process rare earth ores into material manufacturers can use, according to research firm Adamas Intelligence in 2019.Įxports: Chinese exports of rare earths have declined. Mining: China accounted for 70% of world mine production of rare earths in 2022, followed by the United States, Australia, Myanmar and Thailand, United States Geological Survey (USGS) data shows. HOW DOMINANT IS CHINA IN THE RARE EARTHS SUPPLY CHAIN? The 17 elements are: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, yttrium. Rare earths are a group of 17 elements used in products from lasers and military equipment to magnets found in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and consumer electronics such as iPhones. WHAT ARE RARE EARTHS AND HOW ARE THEY USED? Beijing said the curbs were based on environmental concerns.īelow are some facts about rare earths, about China's dominance of the sector, and what countries are doing to ease their dependence on China for the materials. In 2010, China restricted exports of rare earths to Japan following a territorial dispute, sending prices soaring and Japan scrambling to find alternative sources. curbs on sales of technologies to China, raised concerns that China might eventually limit exports of other materials, notably rare earths, whose production China dominates. The decision, widely seen as retaliation for U.S. July 5 (Reuters) - China said on Monday it will impose export restrictions on gallium and germanium products used in computer chips and other components to protect national security interests.
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