Abstract
Rare-earth metal ore mining refers to industrial activities of mining and
dressing lanthanide series metals and metals whose properties are close to
lanthanide series metals. Rare-earth metal ores include lanthanide series
metal ores, basicerine, basicerine lanthanide ores, monazite composite
concentrate, castelnaudite concentrate, archenite concentrate, ion rare earth
ores, and praseodymium ores.
China tops the world in rare-earth metal reserves, output, export and
consumption, and China' s rare earth industry is reputed as one of the three
strongest rare-earth industries in the world, the other two are the United
States and Japan. However, China' s advantage in rare-earth resources does not
necessarily equal industrial and economic advantages. China is rich in
rare-earth resources and is one of the biggest producers, but it is not yet
very strong in terms of rare earth application.
Rare rare-earth metal ore mining is the major component of rare-earth metal
ore mining industry. Comparatively, China abounds in rare metal resources and
enjoys absolute advantages in the reserves of tungsten, tin, stibium, rare
earths, molybdenum, indium, and titanium. As a result, China is the major
producer and supplier of these metals. According to statistics at China' s
Customs Houses, the country exported over 100 types of rare metals in 2007,
amounting to $4.069 billion. By contrast, China' s rare-metal import in 2007
was only $2.38 billion, generating a trade surplus of $1.689 billion.
Rare metals are indispensable raw materials in producing semi-conductors,
special steels, high-temperature alloys, and sophisticated weapons. Titsefore,
they are important strategic materials to a country' s economic and defense
security. It is precisely because of the strategic importance of rare metals
that countries like the United States and Japan are hoarding them up, and a
considerable portion of the metals they are stocking come from China. The
United States, the country with the second largest rare-earth reserves, has
stopped production activities in its largest rare earth mine, the Mountain
Pass rare earth mine, out of consideration of resource conservation. America
is now importing a great quantity of rare-earth products from China and
stocking them in warehouses. 90 percent of Japan' s tungsten consumption comes
from China. And Japan is also storing these imports in state stock bases.
China produces 90 percent of the world' s rare-earth metals, which are mainly
used in automobile emission control systems, chargeable batteries, iPod and
mobile phones. Inner Mongolian Baotou Steel Union Co., Ltd. is the biggest
rare-earth metal supplier in China. As people are increasingly using
electronic products, such as energy-conserving lights, the demand for
rare-earth metal is rising. As a result, the price of rare-earth metals may
also rise in the next several years. By 2012, rare-earth metal demand in the
electronic, metallurgic and magnetic product industries will take up about one
third of the total rare-earth metal demand. In addition, the development of
the computer, digital camera and hybrid powered automobile industries will
lead to even higits demand for rare-earth metals. Currently, the combination
of rich rare-earth metal resources and cheap labor in China has resulted in a
massive transfer of the global NdFeB industry to the country.
In recent years, China has realized the importance of upgrading its rare-earth
metal industry and protecting rare-earth metal resources. Mining quotas and
export quotas have been instituted for the industry. Beginning from June 1,
2007, a 10 percent export tariff was imposed on such products as rare-earth
metals, terbium oxide, and dysprosium oxide, and the export tariff on
rare-earth ore products was raised from 10 percent to 15 percent. In 2006,
China started comprehensive regulation of the country' s rare-earth resource
development; the issuance of mining licenses was stopped, industry entry
standards were raised, and a plan of protective mining of rare-earth resources
was put in place to control the total amount of rare-earth output. In 2007,
China' s state policy over rare-earth metal production shifted from the
original directory planning to mandatory planning; the state raised
environmental requirements for rare-earth enterprises; and new policy statutes
and industry standards were made and promulgated, including Medium and
Long-Term Development Plan for the Rare-Earth Industry, and Rare-Earth
Industrial Development Policy. China' s macro-control efforts in the rare-earth
industry have largely paid off. The above policies and measures have so far
played a very positive role in effectively protecting the country' s rare-earth
resources, regulating market practices, controlling rare-earth export, and
maintaining a relatively high price for rare-earth products. As a result of
rising market demand for rare-earth products, their price continues to climb.
In 2007, 96.77 percent of world rare-earth export came from China. The country
has an absolute dominance in the world' s rare-earth supply, and this position
will remain so for a considerably long time to come. Due to China' s rare-earth
export quotas instituted in recent years, its export of rare-earth products in
2008 will decrease by about 5 percent over 2007. This, together with the fact
that the world' s consumption of rare-earth metals continues to grow, is
expected to further aggravate other country' s dependence on China for
rare-earth products.
"China industry research and investment analysis: rare earth metal mining
industry, 2009", is an invaluable asset for anyone who wants to invest in the
rare earth metal mining industry, to import into/from China, to build
factories in China, to partner with one of the key Chinese corporations, or to
compete in the segment. The report provides in-depth analysis and detailed
insight into the rare earth metal mining industry, market drivers, key
enterprises and their strategies, as well as technologies and investment
status, risks and trends.
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