China controls 97% of the world's production of rare earth elements and has been restricting exports since 2004 by an average of 13% per year. In 2011, China announced a 35% reduction in export quotas from 2010 levels, significantly increasing prices. By limiting supplies, China is forcing other countries to develop their own rare earth mining capabilities, giving it a technological and economic advantage. The US and EU have expressed concern about China's monopoly on the rare earth market and restrictive trade policies.
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Rare earth material(introdution)
1. RARE EARTH
MATERIAL(INTRODUTION)
China controls 97% of the worlds production of
rare earth elements (REE), and is now slapping
quotas on the amount of its REE available for
export, with astonishing price effects. Each tonne of
Chinese REE exports was valued at $109,036 (on a
free on board basis) in February 2011, the first time
they have risen above the $100,000/tonne
threshold. Cerium, lanthanum and neodymium
have all practically doubled in price in March 2011
alone .
2. Contin
The Middle East has its oil, China has rare earths
the country is a powerhouse in the production
and supply of REE.
China has produced 97% of global supply and yet
it have 36% of total reserves.
Uptil 1980s production was dominated by US and
other including India,South Africa and Brazil.
China produces REE much more cheaply than
anybody else.
3. Contin.
China have monopoly in supply of REE material
One of the biggest consumers of Chinas REE is
Japan. The elements are transformed there from
basic commodities into expensive, desirable high-
tech goods
Not only does China dominate the market, it has
been restricting the supply of its REE to the
market since 2004 by an average annual rate of
13% over the past six years.
4. Contin
China recently announced that in H1 2011 it will
cut export quotas by a massive 35% on 2010
totals
Other large importers of REE metals (and
compounds) than Japan are the US, Germany,
France and Austria And at a lower level but
probably likely to grow in demand are markets for
REE in Estonia, Korea, The Netherlands, and Brazil
Most consumers, particularly Japan, the US and
Korea, have interpreted Chinas export policy as
being the first salvo in a deliberate trade war
5. limiting supplies in order to ensure its own
comparative advantage, protecting its domestic
industries and attempting to keep as much of the
profits from its natural resources for itself
by limiting supplies of REE available for export, the
Chinese are forcing other countries to find and
develop alternative sources of REE. With significant
financial costs and a time lag in restoring
supply/demand parity, China is awarding itself a
technological leap of quite remarkable proportions
It still has the greatest quantity, at 36.5% of global
reserves Russia has the next highest reserves at 19%
of world totals, followed by the US with 13.2%,
Australia with 5.5% and India with 3.1%. The rest of
the world has 22% of REE reserves.
6. By withholding supplies of a critical raw material,
China is they argue preventing its economic
rivals from going about their normal business on
fair trade terms and at reasonable prices
at the end of March( Previous year) Chinas
ministry of finance and taxation announced that it
was levying a new tax of between 30-60 yuan
($4.54-$9.10) per metric tonne on rare earths
(depending on the type mined) from 1 April
The higher tax (60 yuan per tonne) will be on the
light rare earth elements while the lower tax (30
yuan per tonne) will be levied on the medium and
heavy rare earths
7. US and EU has shown their problem regarding
Chinas policy on trade.
US wants to end the monopoly of china in REE but
it is not visible in present time
8. Conclusion
China wants to Dominate and Manipulate the REE
market.
Their strategy is aiming at abducting and acquiring
the REE present in Other countries
They are forcing Other nations to produce their
own REE