China has raised fresh international trade concerns after slashing export quotas on rare earths minerals, used in the manufacture of high-tech devices, risking action from the United States at the World Trade Organization.
China, which produces about 97 percent of the global supply of rare earth minerals, cut its export quotas by 35 percent for the first half of 2011 versus a year ago, saying it wanted to preserve ample reserves, but warned against basing its total 2011 export quota on the first half figures.
The U.S. Trade Representative’s office was “very concerned” about China’s export restraints on rare earths and had raised its concerns with China, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
A European Commission spokesman said the European Union “notes the latest quota figures and expects China to respect its recent assurance of a guarantee of rare earth supplies to Europe.”
U.S. makers of high-tech products such as Apple Inc.’s iPads, along with Japanese companies have been scrambling to secure reliable supplies of the minerals outside of China as Beijing steadily reduces export allocations.
Japan’s Sony Corp. said China’s move to cut export quotas was a hindrance to free trade and that it would work to reduce its reliance on Chinese supplies.
“At this point in time there is no direct impact on our company. But further restrictions could lead to a shortage of supply or rise in costs for related parts and materials,” Sony said in an email statement in response to questions from Reuters. “We will watch the situation carefully.”
Sony, maker of Bravia brand flat TVs, Vaio PCs and the PlayStation 3 video game console, will look for ways to cut its use of rare earths, including developing alternative materials, Sony spokeswoman Ayano Iguchi said.
A BOON TO SOME
China’s move, however, came as a shot in the arm for some companies.
Lynas Corp, which owns the world’s richest known non-Chinese deposit of rare earths, jumped over 10 percent even though it will be at least a year before it is capable of mining any material from a new lode in Australia.
Other rare earths companies, including China Rare Earth Holding Ltd, Arafura Resources, Alkane Resources and Greenland Minerals and Energy Ltd also gained between 8 percent 10 percent.
“Export quotas continue to be a tool for the Chinese government to limit the export of China’s strategic resource,”
Lynas Executive Chairman Nick Curtis said in a statement.
“The growth in the Chinese domestic market coupled with a decrease in production of rare earths in China is a likely cause for the tightening of export regulations,” said Curtis, whose company is aiming to start production in about a year and has already forged supply contracts with Japanese traders.
World demand for rare earths at present is about 110,000 tonnes a year, with China accounting for about 75 percent of total demand with the remainder split between Japan, the United States and Europe, in descending order.
Demand for rare earths is set to more than double to 250,000 tonnes by 2015, according to industry estimates.
“Concerned parties should not estimate full-year quotas for rare earth minerals just by looking at the first set of quotas,” China’s Ministry of Commerce said.
Final quotas will take into account domestic production and demand both at home and abroad, according to the ministry.
DEALS FOR SUPPLY
Prices have surged for these minerals, also used in making fluorescent light bulbs, since authorities in Beijing slashed their rare earth exports by 40 percent this summer, saying China needed them for its economic development.
Last week, Hitachi Metals Ltd signed a joint venture with U.S.-based Molycorp Inc to help ensure a steady supply — an announcement that sent its shares up 15 percent in a single trading session.
That followed word earlier this month that Sumitomo Corp
agreed to invest $130 million in Molycorp to secure a seven-year supply of the materials.
Since debuting in late July at $14, Molycorp’s stock price has nearly quadrupled.
Molycorp owns a rare-earth mine in Mountain Pass, California, which is scheduled to resume production next year after a 10-year hiatus.
Japan’s trade minister, Akihiro Ohata, told reporters on Tuesday he believed Japan would still be able to secure enough rare earth supplies in 2011 even after China’s quota cuts, but said the situation would need further study.
Ohata’s comment was based on the assumption that the expected amount of imports in the first half of 2011 would be roughly equal to the average of imports for the first and second halves of 2010, a spokeswoman for the ministry said.
Hyundai Mobis, South Korea’s top automotive parts maker and a major supplier to Hyundai Motor, said that the quota would have an impact on the two companies, as rare earth is used in electric motors for hybrid vehicles, and as Hyundai Motor is increasing its hybrid vehicle sales.
A spokesman for Hyundai Mobis added that the two companies have been preparing measures to cope with rare earth issues, including diversifying imports.
