Latest news with #DavidMerriman
See - Sada Elbalad
20-04-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
China Adds 7 Rare Earth Minerals to Export Ban List
Taarek Refaat In response to punitive tariffs imposed by Washington, Beijing added seven rare earth minerals to its export restrictions list earlier this month. With geopolitical and trade tensions escalating, China's dominance in the extraction and processing of these specialized minerals has become a leverage it uses against its adversaries. In contrast, the United States lacks virtually any processing capacity for the targeted minerals, according to data from the consulting firm Project Blue. Beijing said it imposed these restrictions because the minerals are used in advanced technologies and in the manufacture of powerful magnets, and are therefore considered dual-use materials, meaning they have both civilian and military applications. "These products and elements directly influence the development of key technologies and support industries in other major markets... This gives China greater leverage in any negotiations," said David Merriman, research director at Project Blue. Here are some of the key uses of the seven minerals—out of 17 normally classified as rare earth minerals—that are now on Beijing's banned list. Terbium This soft, silvery metal is used in light bulbs and produces bright colors on smartphone screens, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry. Terbium increases the temperature tolerance of magnets used in aircraft, submarines, and missiles. The US Department of Defense says terbium is "one of the most difficult elements to secure," accounting for less than 1% of the total rare earth content in most deposits. China exports up to 85% of its terbium to Japan, while other destinations include South Korea and the United States, which take about 5%, according to Bloomberg calculations based on Chinese customs data. Yttrium Yttrium is used in liver cancer treatments and in the production of lasers used in medical and dental surgery. It also increases the strength and resistance to heat and shock of alloys, making it ideal for high-temperature superconductors. Yttrium is mined at the Mountain Pass mine in California, but the concentrate is exported for processing due to the lack of a fully commercial separation facility in the United States. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, about 93% of U.S. imports of yttrium compounds came from China in the four years to 2023. Dysprosium The name of this shiny metal is derived from the Greek word meaning "hard to obtain." Being resistant to high temperatures, dysprosium is primarily used in magnet alloys used in motors or generators. The metal is particularly important for the transition to clean energy, as magnets are used in wind turbines and electric vehicles. A type of dysprosium is also used in control rods in nuclear reactors because it readily absorbs neutrons. China ships more than half of its dysprosium to Japan, and about a tenth to South Korea, while only 0.1% goes to the United States. Australian company Lynas Rare Earths is expected to expand its dysprosium and terbium production plant in Malaysia by June. Gadolinium If you've ever had an MRI, you've likely received an injection of a gadolinium-based dye, which interacts with magnetic forces to improve the clarity of body parts in medical imaging. Gadolinium is also effective in enhancing the performance of alloys, improving their resistance to high temperatures and oxidation, making it useful for metals used in magnets, electronic components, and data storage disks. Its ability to absorb neutrons makes it a key component in the core of nuclear reactors. Lutetium This metal is hard and dense, unlike most other target elements, and is used as a chemical catalyst in oil refineries. The United States purchases almost all of its supply of this metal from China, which also exports a small amount to Japan. Samarium Samarium-cobalt alloys are on the United States' list of critical metals that can be stockpiled for reserve purposes. Once commonly used in headphones, the metal is now used in supermagnets in turbines and automobiles. It has broader defense applications because it maintains its magnetic nature at high temperatures. Samarium is also used in optical lasers and nuclear reactors. Scandium The metal is named after Scandinavia because it was first discovered in northern Europe. Scandium can be extracted from mine tailings or as a byproduct of uranium or other mineral mining. Baseball bats and bicycle tires may contain traces of scandium. Due to its low density and high melting point, the metal is also used in some fighter jet components. Its radioactive properties make it ideal as a tracer in oil refining or for detecting leaks in underground pipelines. The last time scandium was produced in the United States was more than 50 years ago, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The United States currently imports 14% of China's exports of scandium and yttrium combined, according to customs data, with Japan being the largest importer. Scandium is not currently produced in the European Union, but a project is scheduled to begin operations next year. Off the List: Neodymium and Praseodymium Neodymium and praseodymium were not targeted in this round of trade escalations, despite being among the most common rare earth elements due to their pivotal role in permanent magnet motors. Neodymium and praseodymium convert stored electricity into motion, such as turning the wheels of an electric vehicle, and vice versa, converting motion into electricity, making them popular in wind turbines. MP Materials reopened its Mountain Pass mine in California's Mojave Desert in 2018, the only operating rare earth mine in the country with refining capabilities. Last year, the United States produced 1,130 tons of neodymium and praseodymium, according to Blue Project, while China produced more than 58,300 tons. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. 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Japan Times
16-04-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Seven rare earth metals that China is weaponizing against the U.S.
From fighter planes to nuclear reactor rods and smartphones, rare earth minerals are vital to a wide array of products. As geopolitical and trade tensions rise, China's dominance of both mining and processing means these niche metals have become a cudgel to use against opponents. In response to punitive tariffs imposed by Washington, Beijing earlier this month added seven rare earths to its export control list. While the metals actually occur fairly commonly in the Earth's crust, they are not frequently found in concentrated deposits. They can also require a multistep process to isolate individual elements — and China controls not only mining, but the vast majority of global refining capacity. The U.S., meanwhile, has almost no processing ability for the targeted metals, according to data from consultancy Project Blue. Beijing has said that it is establishing controls because the metals are used in advanced technologies and for powerful magnets, and so are considered dual-use items — meaning materials with civilian but also military applications. "These products and elements directly impact the development of key technologies and supporting industries in other major markets,' said David Merriman, Project Blue's research director. "This improves China's leverage in any negotiations.' Here are some of the main applications for the seven metals — out of 17 on the commonly accepted list of rare earths — that are now on Beijing's restricted list. Terbium This soft, silvery metal can be found in light bulbs, while it also enables the vibrant colors on smartphone screens, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry. Terbium adds temperature resiliency to magnets used in aircraft, submarines and missiles. It's "one of the hardest elements to source,' as it makes up less than 1% of the total rare earth content in most deposits, the U.S. Department of Defense has said. China exports as much as 85% of its terbium to Japan, while other destinations include South Korea and the U.S., which takes around 5%, according to calculations based on Chinese customs data. Yttrium Yttrium is used to treat liver cancer and in the production of lasers for dental and medical surgeries. It also increases the strength of alloys, and its resistance to heat and shocks means its ideal for high-temperature superconductors. Yttrium has been mined as a product at the Mountain Pass Mine in California, but concentrates are exported for processing as there's no fully commercial separation facility in the U.S.. Around 93% of U.S. imports of yttrium compounds came from China in the four years through 2023, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Dysprosium The name of this bright metal is derived from the Greek for "hard to obtain." Resistant to high temperatures, dysprosium is mainly used in alloys for magnets deployed in motors or generators. It's particularly important for the clean-energy transition as the magnets are used in wind turbines and electrical vehicles. A form of dysprosium can also be used in nuclear reactor control rods as it readily absorbs neutrons. China ships over half of its dysprosium to Japan, and about a tenth to South Korea, while just 0.1% of that goes to the U.S.. Australia's Lynas Rare Earths is expected to expand its plant in Malaysia to produce dysprosium and terbium by June. Gadolinium If you ever had an MRI scan, you may well have received an injection of a gadolinium-based dye, which reacts with magnetic forces to improve visibility of the body's organs in medical imaging. Gadolinium is also effective in enhancing the performance of alloys. Adding small amounts of the mineral can improve the resistance to high temperatures and oxidation, helpful for metals used to make magnets, electronic components and data storage disks. Its neutron-absorbing capability also makes it an ingredient for the core of nuclear reactors. Lutetium This is a hard and dense metal, unlike most of the rest of the elements being targeted. Lutetium is used as a chemical catalyst fluid in oil refiners. The U.S. buys almost all of its supply of the metal from China, which also exports a small amount to Japan. Samarium Samarium-cobalt alloys are on a U.S. list of critical metals for potential stockpiling. Once commonly found in headphones, it's used in super magnets that are in turbines and cars, as well as having wider defense applications, because it can remain magnetic at higher temperatures. Samarium also goes into optical lasers and nuclear reactors. Scandium The metal is named after Scandinavia because it was first discovered in the Northern European region. Scandium can be extracted from mine tailings, or as a by-product of mining for uranium or other metals. Baseball bats and bicycle frames may contain traces of scandium. Given its low density and high melting point, the metal is also used to make components for fighter planes. Its radioactive properties also makes it ideal as a tracer in oil refining, or in underground pipes for detecting leaks. Scandium was last produced in the U.S. more than 50 years ago, according to the USGS. For scandium and yttrium combined, the country now takes 14% of China's exports, according to customs data, while Japan is the biggest buyer. In the European Union, there's also no current production of scandium, but a project will be commissioned next year. Off the list: Neodymium, Praseodymium Neodymium and praseodymium are not being targeted in this round of trade salvos. These two metals, however, are by far the most common rare-earth elements because of their important roles in making permanent magnet motors. Neodymium in Inner Mongolia | Bloomberg Neodymium and praseodymium convert the electricity stored in a battery into motion — to rotate the wheels of an electric vehicle, for instance. They can also work in the opposite direction to turn motion into electricity, such as from the spinning of wind turbine blades. MP Materials reopened Mountain Pass in California's Mojave Desert in 2018, the only operational rare earths mine in the country that now has refining capabilities. Last year, the U.S. produced 1,130 tons of refined neodymium-praseodymium, according to Project Blue.
