Rare Earth Export Research Articles

How do seasonal, significant events, and policies affect China's REE export prices? Based on deep learning perspective

This paper aims to accurately predict China's rare earth export prices and reveal the impact of variables such as seasonality, significant events, finance, and supply and demand on rare earth price volatility. Daily datasets of light and heavy rare earths from 2011 to 2023 were used, and the Tree-structured Parzen Estimator-Temporal Fusion Transformer model was employed to predict rare earth prices. Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise and partial dependence plots were used to reveal the factors affecting price volatility. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) The Tree-structured Parzen Estimator-Temporal Fusion Transformer deep learning model can provide more accurate rare earth price prediction information; (2) Light rare earth prices are more susceptible to cyclical influences, while heavy rare earth prices are more affected by significant events. The outbreak of COVID-19 has had a long-term impact on both light and heavy rare earth prices; (3) The fluctuations in heavy rare earth prices are mainly influenced by financial factors, while the fluctuations in light rare earth prices are influenced by multiple factors such as finance, supply and demand, and macroeconomics; (4) An increase in resource tax rates may lead to a decrease in rare earth prices, while an increase in restrictions on rare earth mining may lead to an increase in rare earth prices.

A Comparative Study on the Export Competitiveness of Rare Earth Products from China, the United States, Russia and India

This paper evaluates and compares the export competitiveness of rare-earth products from China, the US, Russia, and India between 2006 and 2020 using the CMS model and the WRCA index. The results show that (1) the competitiveness of the four countries’ rare-earth products has changed differently. The overall competitiveness of rare-earth products of China, the US, and India has decreased, whereas the competitiveness of Russia’s rare-earth products has increased. (2) The factors inhibiting the development of the competitiveness of rare-earth products in the four countries are different. In China and India they are market factors and product factors, in the US it is the overall market share factor, and in Russia it is the market factor. (3) The competitiveness of rare-earth products varies greatly among the four countries. China has the highest rare-earth export competitiveness, whereas the US has significantly lower export competitiveness of rare-earth products than China. Russia and India do not have comparative advantages. (4) The four countries have different trends in the evolution of the competitiveness of rare-earth products. The export competitiveness of rare-earth products of China and India tends to decline, whereas that of the United States and Russia tends to rise. Based on the above findings, the paper puts forward corresponding policy recommendations.

Allocating environmental costs of China's rare earth production to global consumption

China provides over 80% of global rare earth (RE) that caused serious domestic environmental impacts. However, how much RE-related pollution was transferred to China along global supply chain remains poorly understood. Here we, for the first time, established the RE industry-specific input-output approaches to trace environmental costs transfer through China's RE exports from whole supply chain perspective. We found that foreign consumption contributed over half of the environmental costs from China's RE production, with a gross value increasing from $4.8 billion (65% of total environmental costs) in 2010 to $5.4 billion in 2015 (74% of total environmental costs). Countries in the East Asia (i.e., Japan and South Korea) made the largest contribution (27–37%) to the exports induced environmental costs, followed by North America (i.e., the United States, Mexico, and Canada) with a contribution of 20–27% and the rest East Asia (including countries in Asia-Pacific except China Mainland, by 16–23%). Exports induced environmental costs were mainly from RE raw materials (60%) and high value-added products (22%). Suggestions such as rationalizing RE cost as well as production- and consumption-based measures to mitigate environmental impacts were proposed to enhance RE utilities for global sustainable development.

Analysis of Unstable Supply and Demand of Rare Earths from Korea to China and Countermeasures against Regulations: Based on Quad-system Subscriptions

Purpose – This study investigates the impact of regulations over Rare earth that recently China had carried out agianst USA. This discussion examines the definition of essential strategic resources called rare earths, China’s precedent of declaring resource weaponization, and its influence. Furthermore, it analyzes the possibility of China’s rare earth export regulations in trade between South Korea and China, and also suggests Korea’s countermeasures to them, focusing on joining the QUAD system. Furthurmore, POSCO Group, which is pushing for ‘E-Autopos’, a next-generation electric vehicle platform, will be analyzed as a concrete example to discuss the impact on not only the Korean electric vehicle industry but also automakers doing business with POSCO Group. Design/Methodology/Approach – To this end, we used d ata f rom China’s rare earth production, actual cases of damage suffered by POSCO at the time of the restriction on rare earth imports from Japan and the United States. Findings – The quad system is a U.S.-centered security talks planned since the Trump administration and is preparing for China’s exclusive exercise of rare earth hegemony. Moreover we discuss about the high probability that China’s export regulations would be imposed on Korea, considering the domestic economy, which is highly dependent on the Chinese economy. As a result , we insist it is essential for Korea to join the QUAD in preparation for existing rare earth-related risks. In order to elaborate its discussion, we will also link up with the domestic electric vehicle industry, which is essential to have rare earths. To this end, POSCO Group, which is pushing for ‘E-Autopos’,a next-generation electric vehicle platform, will be analyzed as a concrete example to discuss the impact on not only the Korean electric vehicle industry but also automakers doing business with POSCO Group. Research Implications – Through this analysis process, we will analyze the impact of China’s rare earth export regulations on the Korean economy, approach and develop the phenomenon on Korea in terms of resource factors, and present solutions.

How environmental regulation affects China's rare earth export?

China’s rare earth export trade has developed so rapidly since 1990s that China has gradually occupied a leading position in the international market. However, this fast development was proceeding at the cost of the rare earth energy consumption and environmental devastation. Now China begins to attach great importance to environmental protection, which attracts many researchers. This study aims to analyze the influence of environmental regulation on China’s rare earth export trade. And the original study is amongst the few to examine the relationship between environmental regulation and China’s rare earth export with the product-level data. Different from previous studies, this paper selects China’s rare earth export data from 1995 to 2015 and introduces product heterogeneity based on the rare earth production process. Moreover, this study uses the entropy weight method to measure the intensity of environmental regulation. The core conclusions are as follows: (1) Environmental regulation significantly promotes rather than restrains China’s rare earth export. (2) According to the rare earth production process, this paper divides rare earth products into 3 kinds, that is, rare earth raw materials, rare earth useful components and rare earth end-use applications. Then, it is found that rare earth useful component export in processing and smelting is positively affected by environmental regulation. Rare earth raw materials and end-use applications in China’s export are hardly affected. (3) Technological innovation has a mediating effect on the impact mechanism of environmental regulation on China’s rare earth export, which means that environmental regulation significantly promotes technological innovation of enterprises, and thereby the rare earth export is increased. The findings are helpful for policymakers to resolve the issue of environmental devastation.

Domestic Resource Taxation Makes One Solution to the Rare Earth Dispute in WTO — Insights into China’s Resource Taxation

Only one year after the WTO ruled against China on the raw material dispute, the United States, the European Union and Japan sued China in respect of China’s restrictions on rare earth export. According to the non-discrimination principle of WTO, if China continues those export restrictions, it has to carry out restrictions on domestic rare earth users as well. The objective of this paper is to examine the justifiability of resource taxation as a way for the Chinese government to control domestic production and consumption of rare earth. The first part provides a general idea of the demand and supply sides in the world’s rare earth market. Secondly, reasons to utilize resource taxation are given and western countries’ resource taxation systems are analyzed. The third part is a closer look at current China’s resource taxation system, problems with this system are viewed, and suggestions for the upcoming resource taxation reform could be made in the fourth part.

일본의 원소전략 프로젝트

As the importance of rare metal is increasing globally, Japan introduced the concept of Strategic Elements in 2004, and started Strategic Elements Project in 2007. The Goal of this project run by MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) is to develop high-function materials and components that do not use rare or harmful elements by studying the role and characteristics of the elements that compose materials and components and decide their functions and characteristics. In September 2010, Japanese coast guard arrested a Chinese fishing boat near Senkaku Islands (Diaoyudao Islands by China), which escalated to the territory issue and eventually a big diplomatic and economic conflict. In order to put pressure on Japanese Government, China used an economic option, which is the ban of rare earth export to Japan. This incident doubled Japan’s motivation to develop Strategic Elements and put more efforts into this Project. MEXT set the following three research areas in February 2012: Study of alternative materials using sufficient and harmless elements, Study of applications for the high-functions of Strategic Elements, Study of practical design for components using Strategic Elements. Through a course of gathering the opinion of professionals, MEXT settled down with the following 4 research and study areas for the Strategic Elements Project in June 2012. 1. Magnetic materials to replace Dy, Nd. 2. Catalyst/Battery materials to replace Pt, Rh/Li, Co. 3. Electronic materials to replace In, Ta. 4. Structural materials to replace Nb, Mo. This paper deals with the first area and reviews the results of the research and study as of now.

Did China׳s rare earth export policies work? — Empirical evidence from USA and Japan

Rare earth elements are a strategic non-renewable resource. China is the largest producer and exporter of rare earth products. However, China has failed in the past to attain pricing power and large profits in spite of its monopolistic status. Over the past decade, China has issued and readjusted a series of policies for rare earth elements. Did China׳s rare earth export policies work? To answer this question, we have conducted an empirical study using the Lerner index and BP neural network. The results indicate that (1) the market power and price sensitivity of China׳s rare earth products have increased dramatically, indicating that China׳s export policies have exerted significant effects, and (2) the differences and changes in the market power and price sensitivity in different policy periods and in different countries verify the validity of China׳s export restriction policies on rare earth products. Moreover, we suggest that for the sustainable improvement of pricing power, China׳s focus could shift from controlling exports to controlling production, such as carrying out mergers in the industry to form large rare earth producers.

Assessment of trading partners for China's rare earth exports using a decision analytic approach.

Chinese rare earth export policies currently result in accelerating its depletion. Thus adopting an optimal export trade selection strategy is crucial to determining and ultimately identifying the ideal trading partners. This paper introduces a multi-attribute decision-making methodology which is then used to select the optimal trading partner. In the method, an evaluation criteria system is established to assess the seven top trading partners based on three dimensions: political relationships, economic benefits and industrial security. Specifically, a simple additive weighing model derived from an additive utility function is utilized to calculate, rank and select alternatives. Results show that Japan would be the optimal trading partner for Chinese rare earths. The criteria evaluation method of trading partners for China's rare earth exports provides the Chinese government with a tool to enhance rare earth industrial policies.

WTO rules China is violating trade agreements regarding rare-earth exports

WTO rules China is violating trade agreements regarding rare-earth exports

A Brief Analysis of Global Rare Earth Trade Structure

Since a large number of cheap rare earth from China entered the international market in the late 1980s, the rare earth structure in world started to change, and China replaced the United States as the largest rare earth producer and exporter. However, due to Chinas rare earth management and other factors, rare earth prices have rebounded. The foreign rare earth new production capacity is about to increase production in recent years, and the global rare earth structure will change in the future. Through analysis of rare earth import and export, as well as rare earth prices over the past decades in three major trading countries, China, Japan and the United States, this article points out that the diversified pattern of global rare earth supply will be formed, and China will continue to be the main supplier of the worlds rare earth. China should abandon the practice of one to support the global market in the past, and create a harmonious international trade environment.

Reviews of Science for Science Librarians: Rare Earth Elements, An Overview for Librarians

Many modern technological advances are due to rare earth elements. China's restrictions on rare earth exports have drawn the attention of the media and the public to these previously seemingly anonymous elements. The abundance and location of rare earth elements is now in the global spotlight, and it is a matter of international, political, and economical concern. This article discusses both the geological and economic situation related to rare earth elements and the implications for finding and accessing scholarly research.

Rare Earths: Future Elements of Conflict in Asia?

China’s sudden suspension of rare earth exports to Japan in September 2010 represented the opening of a new front in the international competition for natural resources. As the demands of the global economy change, the international demand for rare earths, which are used in a diverse range of high-tech industries, has also increased. As China is currently the largest rare earths exporter, its actions in regulating rare earths exports will directly affect the interests of other states in the supply chain. This paper therefore examines how China assumed this dominant position in the supply chain. It also looks at how major rare earths consumers such as Japan and South Korea are reducing their reliance on and vulnerability to Chinese rare earths supplies through means such as seabed exploration in disputed territories, which might contribute to geopolitical tensions and instability in the East Asian region.

On Problems in Rare Earth Exports of China and Countermeasures

As a country with rich deposit domestically and huge amount of supplying internationally of rare earth, China has not received the matched benefits. The major problems faced by China in rare earth are low international price, difficult transition of export policy, rampant smuggling and decreasing export potential. To solve these problems, China must insist on the transformation of export policy in rare earth, try to match domestic policies with international ones, fully recognize the strategic status of rare earth, control the exporting, mining, utilizing and reserving of rare earth comprehensively, and attack rare earth smuggling more seriously. Key words: Rare earth; Export control; Smuggling; Strategic reserve

Sustainable Development Path for the Rare Earth Industry under the Background of Trade Disputes

The sustainable development of the rare earth industry is based on the rational allocation of the rare earth resource. This article analyzes the necessity of the regulation control of the rare earth export from the requirements of sustainable development and the current problems of the industry, such as new problems of the quota management in export, intensified trade friction and the increasingly rampant smuggling, and makes feasible proposals to promote the rare earth strategy. China should persist the constructive and responsible attitude, taking the international and national resource and markets into account, pursue a win-win strategy which can not only keep the rare earth supply reasonable in the international market, but also protect the ecological environment and resource.

WTO Case Analysis, Suggestions and Impacts: China – Measures Related to the Exportation of Various Raw Materials

Current WTO dispute, China - Measures Related to the Exportation of Various Raw Materials, brings about a series of queries on the consistencies of China's export restrictions on minerals with WTO rules. This dispute may trigger much more similar trade frictions such as China's restrictions on rare earth exports and increase instability of the world trading system. This article provides a detailed and deep study on the compatibility of China's measures at issue with Articles VIII, X and XI of GATT 1994 and relevant provisions in WTO accession documents in complainants' arguments and GATT 1994 Article XX (b), (g) and the chapeau in China's counterarguments. As solutions to this dispute and reference to resolve similar frictions, this article suggests China to increase the transparency and uniform administration of trade regulations, administer the fees and formalities regarding export restrictions in a more neutral and rational way and enhance domestic mining regulations.

The Era of Insufficient Plenty

This article discusses the problem of insufficiency, recognizing limitations, and responding to the challenges posed by diminishing natural resources. Most of the world’s increase in energy consumption has been driven by developing nations, such as China and India, as well as Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Under intense international pressure, China said it would not eliminate rare earth exports. Still, China has sent a clear signal to manufacturers of advanced magnets, motors, superconductors, and other products. If they want unrestricted access to rare earth elements, they must move their factories and make their products in China. Armin Reller, a materials scientist at Germany’s University of Augsburg who has studied mineral reserves, estimated in 2007 that we are on track to run out of hafnium by 2017. Experts suggest that to solve the problems of insufficiency, the current generation needs to start thinking differently. The article concludes that the United States will need outstanding science and great engineering to resolve those potential shortfalls; however, they can no longer act in a vacuum.