SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Strategies & Market Trends : 2026 TeoTwawKi ... 2032 Darkest Interregnum
GLD 368.29+0.6%Nov 7 4:00 PM EST

 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: TobagoJack who wrote (66362)9/23/2010 6:55:09 PM
From: energyplay  Read Replies (3) of 217571
 
The Rare Earth thing smells like theater to me.

Both Japan and China are on holiday - how convenient...

Various hearings coming up, this is perfect fodder for any rare earth mine owner / investor etc. to ramp up.

The story started with an unidentified Japan RE buyer telling an Australian publication (Industrial Minerals ) this yarn.

Both buyers and sellers of rare earths in Japan and China say there is no interruption, and some say they have heard only rumors.

If China wanted to use RE as leverage, it is close to a one time use event, because it is relatively cheap for a moderate size nation to invest and develop an RE mine and processes, and stock pile a few years worth of the RE they need. Toyota is said to have about a years supply for the Prius.

China was reducing the exports of RE to encourage buyers to buy manufactured devices containing RE from China. This lets China capture more of the value and creates JOBS. With some of the best manufacturing cost structures in the world, this made sense.

This rumor tends to move China into the position of being an "unreliable supplier" which means parts containing REs will not be sourced from China, but made somewhere else, even if a small subsidy is needed. These parts will use RE from non-China sources.

************

My best guess is that some part with a strong interest in RE started this rumor. I'll give that about 60% probability.

My second guess is that some lower level PRC official did this without explicit clearance from above.
Maybe a 25 % chance for this version.

So all the other options are maybe 15%.
Some very short term thinking by someone in China, after a lot of effort and money to be a reliable suppler ?
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext