Market update China REE
posted on
Jul 15, 2010 10:27PM
100% interest - Bear Lodge property, Wyoming - One of the largest disseminated Rare Earth deposits in North America
Rare Element Shareholders,
We received some very good news last week in the form of announcements from China further reducing their exports of Rare Earth Elements. It was not that they are limiting the exports of Rare Earths - that has been happening for a while now - it is that China made a large reduction in the amounts of REEs that they will allow companies to export outside of China.
We expected China to reduce the REE export quotas by 6% to 7% this year, but the Chinese have reduced them by about 40%.
Below is a short analysis of some of the actions by China recently that we expect to cause further increases in REE prices.
Our REE resource tonnage has increased significantly this year and we expect it to grow further. Our infrastructure is excellent, and our metallurgical results continue to impress us. Our $4.5 million REE exploration program is now well underway and we have also found that the community is very supportive of the project.
Regards,
Mark T. Brown CA
CFO & Director
Rare Element Resources Ltd.
By Dudley Kingsnorth, IMCOA and consultant to Rare Element:
Developments in China
There have been a number of announcements in the past week which come as a surprise. We have no particular insight except to believe that the intent of these moves appears to be to maximise the 'value add '(locking in China as a supplier), before the many pending non-Chinese rare earths projects are committed:
Export Quotas
It appears that the export quotas for 2010 have been reduced by 40% compared with 2009. This is a far greater reduction than forecast; I had forecast that the reductions would be of the order of 6-7% in the coming years. Nevertheless, the impact is likely to be far reaching:
Price Fixing
It appears that China will attempt to exercise some control over rare earth prices in some provinces in the South of China. This appears contrary to WTO rules; which I believe to be a significant development. However, if there is adverse reaction, worldwide, the mechanism may be withdrawn or watered down to some form of 'guidance'.
Resources Tax
Having been set an example by Australia it appears that China may introduce a Resources Tax (of 5%), which will probably be passed onto customers. This represents another 'free kick' to non-Chinese producers.