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Reuters

China is marshalling information on its rare earth resources with the launch of a detailed survey of areas rich in deposits, while speculation persists that Beijing may curb exports of the materials as part of the trade war with Washington.
The survey of rare earth resources in seven regions began on Monday, according to a report in the China Securities Journal, a newspaper controlled by Xinhua.
Local authorities in the surveyed regions – which include Inner Mongolia and Jiangxi province – must provide specific data and cases on major issues in protecting, developing and applying the resources, according to the official newspaper.
Beijing has also asked these provinces to share thoughts and suggestions on how to improve the supply security of strategic mining resources like rare earths.
What leverage does China’s rare earths dominance hold in trade war?
The survey is being conducted by China’s state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, the industry ministry and the natural resources ministry.
The ministries could not immediately be reached for comment outside normal business hours.
The campaign, mainly directed by the NDRC, might lead to a reduction of rare earth output and push up prices, as Beijing was expected to crack down on illegal mining and trade of the critical elements, the newspaper said, citing an unidentified industry insider.
Chinese rare earth prices are set to climb further beyond the multi-year highs reached after a flurry of state media reports that Beijing could weaponise its supply dominance of the prized minerals in its trade war with the United States.
China accounted for 80 per cent of rare earths – a group of 17 chemical elements used in high-technology consumer electronics and military equipment – imported by the US from 2014 to 2017.
China is home to at least 85 per cent of the world’s capacity to process rare earth ores into material manufacturers can use, according to research firm Adamas Intelligence.


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US-China trade war

China counts its rare earth blessings as ban speculation persists

China’s state planner has begun a survey of the country’s rare earth resources, including how to protect, develop and apply the prized minerals. Photo: Reuters

Pentagon eyes rare earth supplies in Africa in push away from China

Rare earth oxides praseodymium and neodymium in the final stage of production at Lynas’ Advanced Materials Plant in Gebeng, Malaysia, in 2014. Photo: Reuters

Workers transport soil containing rare earth elements for export at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China October 31, 2010. Picture taken October 31, 2010. REUTERS/Stringer ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. CHINA OUT.

FILE PHOTO: Samples of rare earth minerals from left, Cerium oxide, Bastnasite, Neodymium oxide and Lanthanum carbonate are on display during a tour of Molycorp's Mountain Pass Rare Earth facility in Mountain Pass, California June 29, 2015. REUTERS/David Becker/File Photo

In this Dec. 30, 2010, photo, workers use machinery to dig at a rare earth mine in Ganxian county in central China's Jiangxi province. Facing new trade sanctions and a U.S. clampdown on its top telecommunications company, China issued a pointed reminder on Wednesday, May 30, 2019 that it has yet to unleash all its weapons in its trade war with the Trump administration. Chinese state media warned that Beijing could cut America off from exotic minerals that are widely used in electric cars and mobile phones. The threat to use China's rich supply of so-called rare earths as leverage in the conflict has contributed to sharp losses in U.S. stocks and sliding long-term bond yields. (Chinatopix via AP)

China’s May rare earth export falls as supply tapers off amid a worsening trade war with the biggest buyer of the elements

Workers transport soil containing rare earth elements for export at a port in Lianyungang in Jiangsu province on October 31, 2010. Photo: Reuters

China’s ban on rare earths didn’t work on Japan and won’t work in the trade war with the US

President Xi Jinping visited JL Mag, a rare earth processing firm, in Ganzhou, Jiangxi province on May 20. Photo: Xinhua

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China

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State planners survey seven regions rich in the resources including Inner Mongolia and Jiangxi province
Will Beijing weaponise its supply dominance in trade war with the US?


State planners survey seven regions rich in the resources including Inner Mongolia and Jiangxi province.


US-China trade war: All stories

China counts its rare earth blessings as ban speculation persists

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}State planners survey seven regions rich in the resources including Inner Mongolia and Jiangxi province Will Beijing weaponise its supply dominance in trade war with the US?

State planners survey seven regions rich in the resources including Inner Mongolia and Jiangxi province

Will Beijing weaponise its supply dominance in trade war with the US?