China continues to tighten control over global rare earth supplies
The post China continues to tighten control over global rare earth supplies appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. China has released its first set of rare earth mining quotas for 2025 quietly, marking a move to tighten state control over an industry vital to everything from electric cars to military hardware. Reuters reported that Beijing issued the initial quotas just last month, without any formal announcement or public notice. Companies granted permission to mine and process these critical minerals were asked to keep the figures confidential, reportedly for security. Neither the volume nor the specific breakdown of mining versus smelting allowances has been disclosed. For years, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has published its first quarterly quota on its website, usually in the opening months of the year. In contrast, this year’s decision came in silence, underlining Beijing’s growing caution about releasing data that reflects its grip on global supplies. Analysts watch these quotas closely, as they signal how many rare earths, 17 metals essential to electric vehicles, wind turbines, robots, and missiles, will enter the market. China alone accounts for the lion’s share of global production. Delays to the usual spring announcement had fuelled speculation that authorities were reassessing how tightly to hold the reins. When asked why the figures were not shared publicly this time, the Industry Ministry didn’t respond to requests for comments. Observers say the decision fits a broader trend of Beijing using rare earths as leverage in trade talks, notably with the United States and the European Union. China issued two rounds of mining quotas last year, totalling 270,000 metric tons. That output allowance represented a slowdown in annual growth to 5.9 percent, down from a 21.4 percent increase in 2023. Smelting and separation permits for 2024 were also set in two batches, amounting to 254,000 tons, up 4.2 percent on the previous year. China’s rare earth shipments to the US rebounded in June In a related…
The post China continues to tighten control over global rare earth supplies appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
China has released its first set of rare earth mining quotas for 2025 quietly, marking a move to tighten state control over an industry vital to everything from electric cars to military hardware. Reuters reported that Beijing issued the initial quotas just last month, without any formal announcement or public notice. Companies granted permission to mine and process these critical minerals were asked to keep the figures confidential, reportedly for security. Neither the volume nor the specific breakdown of mining versus smelting allowances has been disclosed. For years, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has published its first quarterly quota on its website, usually in the opening months of the year. In contrast, this year’s decision came in silence, underlining Beijing’s growing caution about releasing data that reflects its grip on global supplies. Analysts watch these quotas closely, as they signal how many rare earths, 17 metals essential to electric vehicles, wind turbines, robots, and missiles, will enter the market. China alone accounts for the lion’s share of global production. Delays to the usual spring announcement had fuelled speculation that authorities were reassessing how tightly to hold the reins. When asked why the figures were not shared publicly this time, the Industry Ministry didn’t respond to requests for comments. Observers say the decision fits a broader trend of Beijing using rare earths as leverage in trade talks, notably with the United States and the European Union. China issued two rounds of mining quotas last year, totalling 270,000 metric tons. That output allowance represented a slowdown in annual growth to 5.9 percent, down from a 21.4 percent increase in 2023. Smelting and separation permits for 2024 were also set in two batches, amounting to 254,000 tons, up 4.2 percent on the previous year. China’s rare earth shipments to the US rebounded in June In a related…
What's Your Reaction?
