RARE EARTHS: TIGHTER EXPORT REGULATIONS RESULT IN LOWER CHINESE EXPORTS AND HIGHER PRICES

摘要

The introduction of export taxes and the reduction of export licences resulted in a fall in the volume of Chinese rare earth exports and a sharp rise in prices in the first half of 2007. In terms of volume, Chinese exports of rare earth metals fell by 12 percent year-on-year (to 6,545t) and exports of rare earth compounds fell by 38 percent (to 18,183t) in January to June 2007 (Table 1). Exports of all rare earth products, with the exception of dysprosium metal and neodymium oxide, fell sharply. Shipments of cerium oxide dropped by a half. In contrast, the value of exports of rare earth compounds increased by 42 percent year-on-year and that of rare earth metals rose by 71 percent in January to June 2007 (Table 2). The average value of nearly all products increased, with that of neodymium metal doubling (to 27.94 US dollars/kg) and that of neodymium oxide rising by 141 percent year-on-year (to 24.46 US dollars/kg).