China to inspect rare earth firms in illegal mining crackdown
By ALBERT LI
Published: Tuesday, 20 December 2016
The Chinese government plans to inspect 379 rare earths producers to ensure they are not involved in illegal rare earth mining or smuggling.
The Chinese government plans to inspect 379 rare earths companies in the country in its latest attempt to crack down on illegal mining of the mineral.
As part of recently-announced action against illegal mining to take place between December 2016 and April 2017, the inspections will be equally applied to...
China announces further plans to tackle illegal rare earths mining
By ALBERT LI
Published: Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Although local and central governments have introduced measures previously to combat illegal rare earth extraction, the problem still persists in China and is preventing a price recovery.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced plans to take action against illegal rare earth mining from December 2016 to April 2017 throughout China.
The ministry announced a list of companies that will be inspected, most of which are located in Jiangxi, Inner Mongolia and Jiangsu provinces.
Analysis of China Crackdowns on Rare Earth Sector, SMM Reports
Dec 13 2016
China announced last week to launch crackdowns against illegal activities in the rare earth industry from December 2016 under cooperation of eight relevant ministries. What’s impact on China’s rare ea
SHANGHAI, Dec. 13 (SMM) - China announced last week to launch crackdowns against illegal activities in the rare earth industry from December 2016 under cooperation of eight relevant ministries.
What’s impact on China’s rare earth market from the inspections?
The crackdowns, to last for 5 months, cover 379 enterprises in 23 provinces, and 180 of them engaged in mining, production, trading and exports will undergo stringent inspections. Detail list of inspected enterprises will be released. The round of crackdowns is said to be the longest and strictest one in history.
The latest crackdowns have raised market long sentiment, SMM survey finds. Some market players expressed their optimism, believing that the crackdowns against illegal activities in the sector will reduce spot supply, especially for medium and heavy rare earth products, facing rampant illegal mining. But, some also doubted about it and said that rare earth market, different from base metal market, is determined by supply. And crackdowns only, which proved several times to slightly influence volumes trading in the market and supply declines, will not exert a good effect unless with support from stockpiling and improvement in market fundamentals.
So far, no news is heard about restarting negotiations on SRB’s stockpiling after being postponed in mid year at official bidding conference with four major participating companies, despite reports of internal discussion, asking for financial support from the Ministry of Finance, and etc.
The round of crackdowns is not expected to influence qualified enterprises much but will exert a big impact on illegal mining, separation, smelting, trading and exporting, SMM says. As illegal supply accounts for 1/3 of total supply, spot supply in domestic rare earth market will drop gradually, and this will bolster up prices, and profits at qualified producers will improve as a result.
ACREI lists not only government action but also individual cases and arrests:
Jiangxi to crack down on rare earth illegal acts of special action
Jiangxi to carry out special action against illegal activities of rare earth According to the Ministry of Industry and other eight ministries and commissions to carry out special action against illegal acts of rare earth requirements, Jiangxi Province from December 2016 to April 2017, to carry out special operations against illegal Rare Earth Act. It is reported that the focus of the special action is to severely hit ...
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