General discussion, page-2

Here's an interesting development that could create further global industry supply-chain implications: See China Restructure/Merger story

As China provides more than 85 percent of the world's rare earths and is home to about two-thirds of the global supply of scarce metals and minerals, this merger is aimed at sending the message that the global rare-earths’ supply-chain is safe and secure coming from China but at what cost?

The implications of this 'restructure' rather than 'merger' could be profound. My key passage from the story is as follows:

'Industry insiders expect the restructure may drive up rare-earth prices and domestic firms' profitability as well, helping overhaul persisting industry issues such as environmental pollution and inefficient use of valuable resources due to enterprises' vicious price competition.

Rare-earth prices have spiked since the beginning of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out which led to a global supply shortage and a drastic reduction in productivity.

All IMO, DYOR