China’s export restrictions on the entire rare earth supply chain continued to dominate headlines this week. While the exact impact will only become clear in the coming months, exports of these critical raw materials from the People’s Republic already fell to an annual low in September. Meanwhile, a new study underlined Germany’s strong reliance on rare earths — extending beyond industries such as automotive and machinery manufacturing.
China’s Rare Earth Exports Hit Year-to-Date Low
China’s rare earth exports fell sharply in September, totaling 4,000 tons. Compared with August, this represents a 31 percent decline, Reuters reported, citing Chinese customs data. September marks the third consecutive month of falling exports following a peak in June.
Detailed information on rare earth export trends — broken down by individual product categories — will be released next week.
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One Million Jobs in Germany Depend on Rare Earths
With significantly tightened export restrictions, China once again pushed rare earths into global headlines last week. A new McKinsey analysis now highlights just how dependent the German economy is on these critical raw materials. The authors also outline potential measures to improve domestic supply security over the long term, ranging from recycling and joint raw material purchases by companies to strategic stockpiling.
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Media Report: Pensana Abandons Plans for UK Rare Earth Refinery
According to media reports, the British mining company Pensana will not move forward with the construction of its domestic rare earth refinery. Due to better market conditions, the company now plans to expand its operations to the United States.
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“Recycle your e-waste – it’s critical!” – Action Day for Electronic Waste Recycling
This year, International E-Waste Day on Tuesday was held under the motto “Recycle your e-waste – IT’S CRITICAL.” The initiative, led by the WEEE Forum (Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment), aims to raise awareness that valuable elements such as cobalt, lithium, and gallium can be recovered from electronic waste to help improve raw material supply.
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Europe’s Semiconductor Supply Remains Fragile
Even years after the global chip shortage in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the supply situation in Europe still appears far from secure. This is shown by a survey conducted by the digital association Bitkom among German companies that work extensively with semiconductor chips. Most report procurement problems such as delivery delays and price increases, and export or import restrictions are also an issue. Companies are also concerned about the high dependence on key chip producers such as China, the USA, and Taiwan.
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