The first batch of rare earth export quotas has been allocated to 24 producers for an amount of 15499 tonnes of REO, which should represent 50% of the total quotas in 2013. If the partition is respected, the quotas should not see a major variation from those allocated for 2012.

The batch is divided in light rare earth (13,561 t) and heavy rare earth (1,938 t). Globaly, the Heavies represent 13% of the total amount of rare earth oxides, which is equal to the 2012 number. However we observe for the first time that higher ratios (>20%) have been allocated to 5 producers (China Minmetals Non-ferrous Metals Co Ltd, Jiangyin Jiahua Advanced Material Resources Co., Ltd, Chalco Rare Earth (Jiangsu) Co Ltd, Guangdong Zhujiang Rare Earth Co Ltd and Liyang Rhodia Rare Earth Advanced Material Co., Ltd), which reflects the new restructuring of the REE industry in China.

We wish you the best for the new year. See you next year.

LKConsult

-LK-