Recently, Jiangxi Jinde Lead Co., Ltd. issued an inquiry letter for approximately 65 mt of crude antimony and an invitation letter for competitive bidding sales of antimony fume in 2025. Inquiry Letter for Crude Antimony In the inquiry letter for crude antimony, the company mentioned that the sales volume is approximately 65 mt. The buyer can take samples for testing to understand the product quality, market conditions, and its own requirements, and determine the pricing coefficient for antimony. To ensure the timeliness of quotations, participating entities are requested to pay a deposit of 500,000 yuan before 14:00 on May 12, 2025 (the deposit will be refunded without interest within 3 working days after the conclusion of the price comparison). The inquiry form (stamped with the official seal), a copy of the business license, invoicing information, and documents (in PDF or Word format) named after your company should be emailed to jdgyfknsb@163.com. The company's salesperson should be promptly informed. Any submission beyond the specified time will be deemed invalid. The inquiry form is as follows: The delivery location is the Jinde Lead warehouse, and all goods must be picked up by May 25. The pick-up method is self pick-up by the buyer, and the freight will be borne by the buyer. Below is the specific content of the inquiry letter: Invitation Letter for Competitive Bidding Sales of Antimony Fume in 2025 The "Invitation Letter for Competitive Bidding Sales of Antimony Fume in 2025" mentions that the company's sales volume of antimony fume is 800 mt (from May to August 2025, with the final pick-up quantity to be determined by the seller). The company will conduct the sales through a competitive bidding process without disclosing the reserve price. The signing client will be determined based on the antimony content price coefficient reported by the participating bidding entities. The entity with the highest antimony content price coefficient that exceeds the reserve price coefficient set by the company for antimony fume will be selected as the signing client. Pricing method for antimony content in the subject matter: The antimony price is based on the arithmetic average of the monthly average price (from the 26th of the previous month to the 25th of the current month) for SMM 0# antimony settlement price, multiplied by the pricing coefficient corresponding to the grade. The company adopts an email-based bidding method. Please send the company's bidding invitation letter (stamped with your company's seal), the legal representative's authorization letter for the business license, the production process flowchart, and the antimony fume quotation form (stamped with the official seal) to jdqyfknsb@163.com before 14:00 on May 13, 2025. Any submission beyond the specified time will be deemed invalid. The bidding deposit of 500,000 yuan from the client must be remitted to the company's account before 14:00 on May 13, 2025 (subject to the arrival time, please note: bidding deposit for antimony fume). Bids without the bidding deposit paid on time will be deemed invalid. Below is the specific content of the invitation letter: If you need the original copies of the above announcements, please contact Zhang Lin, the person in charge of SMM, to obtain them. Contact Information: 19921407414
May 31, 2025 14:00According to SMM's assessment, the production of first-grade sodium pyroantimonate in China in May 2025 is expected to decline by approximately 21.21% MoM from the previous month. After experiencing a significant rebound in March, production remained basically stable in April, only to decline again this month, which came as a surprise to many market participants. However, many market participants consider this a normal phenomenon. Since late February, antimony prices have been rising continuously, and orders for glass factories have also started to increase. The production increase of many producers in March was related to receiving more orders, and this situation continued into April. However, with the sharp decline in antimony market prices in April, orders from the terminal side also came to a standstill. Consequently, this affected the procurement demand for sodium pyroantimonate, and it was reasonable for many producers who failed to secure orders to adjust their production. Looking at the detailed data, among SMM's 11 survey respondents, 2 producers were in a state of shutdown or commissioning in May, 3 sodium pyroantimonate producers experienced an increase in production, but 3 producers also saw a significant decline in production, with one producer even experiencing a reduction of more than half. This led to a significant overall decline in production. Market participants anticipate that the national production of sodium pyroantimonate in June is unlikely to continue declining compared to May, and it is more likely to remain stable or increase slightly. Note: Since July 2023, SMM has been publishing its assessed national production of sodium pyroantimonate. Benefiting from SMM's high coverage rate in the antimony industry, SMM surveyed a total of 11 sodium pyroantimonate producers, distributed across 5 provinces nationwide, with a total sample capacity exceeding 75,000 mt and a total capacity coverage rate as high as 99%. This report is an original work and/or a compilation work of SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "SMM"). SMM legally holds the copyright and is protected by the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China, other relevant laws and regulations, and applicable international treaties. Without written permission, it is prohibited to reprint, modify, sell, transfer, display, translate, compile, disseminate, or disclose the above content to any third party in any other form, or to license its use by any third party. Otherwise, once discovered, SMM will pursue legal liability for infringement, including but not limited to requiring the assumption of liability for breach of contract, returning unjust enrichment, and compensating for direct and indirect economic losses. The content contained in this report, including but not limited to information, articles, data, charts, images, sounds, videos, logos, advertisements, trademarks, trade names, domain names, layout designs, and any or all other information, is protected by the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China, the Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China, the Anti-Unfair Competition Law of the People's Republic of China, and other relevant laws and regulations, as well as applicable international treaties concerning copyright, trademark rights, domain name rights, commercial data information property rights, and other rights. It is owned or held by SMM and its relevant right holders. Without written permission, no institution or individual may reprint, modify, use, sell, transfer, display, translate, compile, disseminate, or disclose the aforementioned content to any third party in any other form, or license its use to any third party. Otherwise, once discovered, SMM will pursue legal action to hold the infringing party liable, including but not limited to demanding compensation for breach of contract, returning unjust enrichment, and compensating for direct and indirect economic losses. *All data in this report is based on publicly available market information (including but not limited to industry news, seminars, exhibitions, corporate financial reports, brokerage reports, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), customs import and export data, and various data published by major associations and institutions), and relies on SMM's internal database models. It is comprehensively processed internally by the SMM research team, and reasonable inferences are drawn. The information provided in this report is for reference only, and risks are borne by the user. This report does not constitute direct advice for investment research and decision-making. Clients should make prudent decisions and should not use this as a replacement for their own independent judgment. Any decisions made by clients are unrelated to SMM. In addition, SMM is not responsible for any losses or liabilities arising from unauthorized or illegal use of the viewpoints expressed in this report. SMM reserves the right to modify and ultimately interpret the terms of this statement.
May 30, 2025 09:48On May 27, amid the doldrums of the broader market, the share price of Hunan Gold also experienced a decline. As of 13:24 on the 27th, Hunan Gold fell by 1.54%, closing at 23.04 yuan per share. When asked, "What are the planned production volumes for the company's self-produced gold, antimony products, and tungsten products in 2025?", Hunan Gold stated on the investor interaction platform on May 27 that, the company plans to produce 72,475 kg of gold, 39,537 mt of antimony, and 1,100 standard mt of tungsten products in 2025. In 2024, the prices of antimony and gold saw significant increases, substantially boosting the profits of many related enterprises. 1# Antimony Ingot saw a 70.73% increase in 2024. 》Click to view SMM antimony metal spot prices 》Subscribe to view historical price trends of SMM metal spot prices In 2024, antimony prices generally surged. Although prices slightly corrected since mid-October 2024, they remained high, resulting in a notable increase for the entire year. From the historical price trend of SMM 1# antimony ingot: the average price of SMM 1# antimony ingot was 82,000 yuan/mt on December 29, 2023, and 140,000 yuan/mt on December 31, 2024, marking an increase of 58,000 yuan/mt over the year, with a 70.73% increase in 2024. In 2025, antimony prices continued the upward trend of 2024. On May 27, the latest quote for SMM 1# antimony ingot was 221,500 yuan/mt, a 58.21% increase compared to the average price of 140,000 yuan/mt on December 31, 2024. The year-to-date high of 238,000 yuan/mt represents a 70% increase compared to the average price of 140,000 yuan/mt on December 31, 2024. After maintaining a firm price at 238,000 yuan/mt for over 20 days, the average price of antimony recently experienced some downward pressure. Although the fundamental supply and demand dynamics in the antimony market have not changed significantly, the substantial suspension of imported ore entering the domestic market has led to a severe shortage of domestic antimony raw materials. Additionally, the overall inventory of antimony products among domestic manufacturers is at historically low levels, prompting manufacturers to maintain stable pricing. In the domestic antimony end-use market, orders for both flame retardants and PV-related antimony products have remained basically stable. Although there has been no recent improvement in orders from the end-use sector, they have not deteriorated either, with a generally good pace of just-in-time procurement. However, due to the recent interplay of bullish and bearish market news, the sentiment in the retail investment market has become chaotic, leading to the entry of some low-priced supplies into the market and causing antimony prices to decline since May 15. Gold prices maintain an overall upward trend, with COMEX gold up nearly 27% year-to-date Following a 13.45% increase in 2023, COMEX gold surged by 27.39% in 2024. Since the beginning of this year, it has repeatedly hit record highs, reaching a peak of $3,509.9 per ounce. With the temporary suspension of US-EU tariff disputes and a rebound in market risk appetite, gold prices experienced a slight correction. However, recent fluctuations in US trade policies and market concerns about the US fiscal outlook have limited the downside room for gold prices. As of 14:33 on May 27, COMEX gold fell by 1.22%, closing at $3,353.2 per ounce, with a year-to-date increase of 26.97% in 2025. Regarding the outlook for gold prices, multiple institutions have the following views: Jinyuan Futures stated that despite the temporary easing of the US-EU trade war, there is still significant uncertainty in subsequent trade negotiations. The global economic outlook remains unclear, and geopolitical risks are frequent. Investors tend to seek more stable asset allocations, and it is expected that gold prices will maintain a fluctuating trend at highs in the short term. Citi has raised its 0-3 month target price for gold to $3,500 per ounce, and expects gold prices to consolidate between $3,100 and $3,500 per ounce. For gold prices at the end of this year and next year, Ningxia Ruiyin Lead Resource Recycling Co., Ltd. maintains a forecast of $3,500 per ounce, with the peak possibly reaching $3,600 per ounce by mid-2026. This is due to considerations of downside risks to economic growth, and the possibility that the US Fed may continue to ease monetary policy. A report previously released by the World Gold Council showed that global gold prices hit record highs 20 times in Q1. Affected by this, the total global gold jewelry consumption decreased by 21% YoY, reaching its lowest point since 2020. However, there was a significant increase in gold investment demand. In Q1, the global gold investment demand was 551.9 mt, a substantial increase of 170% YoY. This indicates that against the backdrop of gold prices repeatedly reaching new highs, global gold jewelry demand has declined, but gold as an investment product is more favored.
May 27, 2025 14:49According to customs data, China's antimony trioxide exports in April 2025 reached 956.8 mt. On a MoM basis, exports increased by approximately 6.19% compared to the 901 mt exported in March. Many market participants stated that, in terms of the current fundamental situation of antimony prices in the market, the slight month-on-month increase in antimony trioxide exports in April over the past few months was indeed in line with market conditions.
May 21, 2025 15:07SMM News on May 16: After a prolonged period of stability and firmness, antimony prices experienced a certain decline this week. Although the fundamental supply and demand dynamics in the antimony market have remained relatively unchanged, the significant suspension of imported ore entering the domestic market has led to a severe shortage of domestic antimony raw materials. Additionally, the overall inventory of antimony products among domestic manufacturers is at historically low levels, prompting manufacturers to continue stabilizing their quotes. In the domestic end-use market for antimony products, whether for flame retardants or PV applications, orders have remained basically stable. Although there has been no recent improvement in orders from the end-user side, they have also not deteriorated, with an overall good pace of just-in-time procurement. However, due to the recent intermingling of bullish and bearish market news, the sentiment in the hot money market has become chaotic, leading to the entry of some low-priced supplies into the market. As of now, the SMM average prices for antimony are as follows: 2# low-bismuth antimony ingot at 228,500 yuan/mt, 1# antimony ingot at 232,500 yuan/mt, 0# antimony ingot at 236,500 yuan/mt, and the average price for 2# high-bismuth antimony ingot at 225,500 yuan/mt. As for the market prices of antimony trioxide this week, as of now, the SMM average prices for antimony trioxide are: 99.5% purity at 198,500 yuan/mt and 99.8% purity at 210,000 yuan/mt. Additionally, according to SMM's assessment, the overall production of antimony ingots (including antimony ingots, crude antimony conversion, antimony cathode, etc.) in China in April 2025 is expected to decline significantly by around 10% MoM compared to the previous month. Specifically, among the 33 surveyed entities currently assessed by SMM, 8 manufacturers have halted production, a decrease of 4 from the previous month; 21 manufacturers have experienced a reduction in production, an increase of 4 from the previous month; and 4 manufacturers have maintained basically normal production levels, unchanged from the previous month. From the perspective of antimony ingot production, antimony production in April declined again after rebounding in March, a phenomenon considered normal by many market participants. This is attributed to the ongoing inability of many overseas ore sources to enter the domestic market, coupled with the poor progress of mining operations at northern ore sources, with many mines still in the process of gradual recovery or remaining suspended. Currently, many market participants indicate that the overall supply of domestic raw materials remains tight, and the reluctance of antimony ore suppliers to sell is still evident. Many manufacturers state that their current inventory levels are still in a phase of reduction. If the future increase in domestic mine raw material supply can alleviate the raw material shortage, production in May may show signs of recovery; otherwise, the reduction in market inventory will continue. Market participants anticipate that the national antimony ingot production in May 2025 is likely to decline compared to April, although a stable production level is also a possibility. However, based on the current situation, the likelihood of an increase appears relatively small. Furthermore, according to SMM's assessment, the production of first-grade sodium pyroantimonate in China in April 2025 is expected to decline by around 1.8% MoM compared to the previous month, remaining basically stable after a significant rebound in the previous month. Many market participants consider this a normal phenomenon. Since antimony prices began to rise continuously from the end of February, orders for glass factories have also started to increase. The production increase of many manufacturers in March was also related to receiving more orders, and it is reasonable for this situation to continue into April. Looking at other detailed data, among the 11 survey respondents from SMM, in April, 2 manufacturers were in a state of shutdown or commissioning, 4 sodium pyroantimonate manufacturers experienced an increase in production, and 2 manufacturers saw a significant decline in production. As a result, the overall production remained basically stable, with a slight decline. Market participants expect that the national production of sodium pyroantimonate in May is unlikely to continue to decline compared to April, and it is more likely to remain flat or increase slightly. 》View SMM historical prices of bismuth
May 16, 2025 16:25According to a report from MiningNews.net, Andre Booyzen, the new manager of Trigg Minerals, has only been in his role for a few weeks, but he already anticipates significant potential at the company's Buffalo River antimony-gold mine, which is already Australia's highest-grade antimony ore deposit. On May 8, Booyzen stated that based on Trigg's internal models and drilling plans, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the mine's resources are expected to increase to at least 100,000 mt. Currently, the mine holds 29,000 mt of antimony resources with a grade of 1.97%. Booyzen has served as a consultant to Trigg for several months, having previously worked at Mandalay Resources, which is currently Australia's only antimony producer. This background positions Booyzen as one of the few mining executives in Australia with experience in antimony ore mining. Trigg initially focused on potash but is now concentrating entirely on antimony ore, aiming to partner with Larvotto Resources to become a new developer of "the rarest critical minerals." Recently, the international antimony market has experienced volatility, with antimony prices surging above $60,000/mt. Versatile Applications Booyzen noted that antimony has versatile applications, "closely tied to our daily lives," with its key use being as a conflict metal in artillery and ammunition. Russia's military operations in Ukraine consumed 12,000 mt of antimony, while Israel's war in Gaza consumed approximately 2,000 mt. This represents a substantial volume over the past three years, considering the global annual market capacity is only 70,000 mt, with a market share of around $3 billion in 2024. Geopolitical instability has compelled governments worldwide to strengthen their weapon reserves, but antimony is not solely used in military equipment. In fact, antimony for weapons accounts for only about 9.4% of total demand. A significant growth market is solar panels, with an average annual growth rate of approximately 10%. Overall, according to estimates by the International Antimony Association (IAA), of which Trigg is a member, the annual consumption growth rate of antimony is approximately 6%. Trigg's initial focus is on bringing the Buffalo River deposit into production. The next resource update will not only expand the scale and significantly reduce the cut-off grade (currently set at 1%, which Booyzen noted is well above the economically viable grade) but will also consider gold and tungsten as co-products. The proposed drilling will also validate the potential of the underlying gold ore system. The Buffalo River deposit extends 300 meters at the surface and remains uncontrolled below 350 meters along the dip. Recent sampling and analysis of the existing 1960s-era horizontal adits at Bison Creek have revealed an average antimony grade of 4.83%, confirming the significant scale of shallow antimony mineralization. However, this portion of resources was not included in Terrig's resource estimate but was included in the resource estimate by the previous owner, Anchor Resources. The Roula vein, which runs parallel to the main Bison Creek vein, has not had its resources estimated due to a lack of drilling. Despite being only 35 meters apart, sample analysis indicates that the Roula vein is thin but high-grade, with a 2-meter intersection of 14.45% antimony and 0.84% tungsten, including a 1-meter section of 27.6% antimony mineralization. If we refer to the final feasibility study results of Ravenswood's Hillgrove project, gold and tungsten will reduce operating costs. Delineating commercial resources based on current prices would not take much time, and with the New South Wales government's newly introduced A$250 million deferred royalty scheme, there would be no policy obstacles to development. The mineralization at Bison Creek is very extensive, making it suitable for large-scale mining. Building an Asset Portfolio The Bison Creek deposit is part of the Achilles project, which extends 6 kilometers along the Bielsdown. Based on the distribution of known historical mining sites along this mineralized belt, Boyce believes that deposits similar to Bison Creek can be discovered. Terrig's antimony exploration area now covers 2,100 square kilometers, with recent additions including the Nundle, Upper Hunter, Bukkulla, and Cobark/Copeland projects. These areas are home to five historical antimony mines and 60 gold mining sites. Sample analysis has revealed antimony grades as high as 61% and gold grades of 1,045 g/t.
May 13, 2025 14:14SMM May 8 News: According to SMM, Jiangxi Jinde Lead Co., Ltd. is issuing an invitation for competitive bidding sales of antimony fume for 2025 starting today. The company will conduct a bidding sale for 800 mt of antimony fume (from May to August 2025, with the final cargo pick-up quantity to be determined by the seller). The company will sell the antimony fume through a non-public reserve price bidding process. The signing client will be determined based on the antimony price coefficient reported by the bidding entities for the antimony fume. The entity with the highest antimony price coefficient for the antimony fume, which is higher than the reserve price coefficient set by the company, will be selected as the signing client. The company will conduct the bidding via email. Buyers are requested to send the company's bidding invitation letter (stamped with the buyer's seal), the business license, the legal representative's authorization letter, the production process flowchart, and the antimony fume quotation sheet (stamped with the official seal) to jdqyfknsb@163.com before 14:00 on May 13, 2025. Any submissions sent after this time will be considered invalid. The bidding deposit of 500,000 yuan from clients must be remitted to the company's account before 14:00 on May 13, 2025 (subject to the time of receipt; please note: bidding deposit for antimony fume). Bids without the bidding deposit paid on time will be deemed invalid.
May 8, 2025 14:20On April 21, the stock price of Xingye Silver and Tin rose. As of 10:16 on the 21st, Xingye Silver and Tin increased by 3.06%, reaching 12.14 yuan per share. On the news front: An investor asked on the investor interaction platform: When will the company start producing gold? When will the Yinman mining area be completely shut down (since the accident investigation has been delayed, will it enter an indefinite shutdown and rectification like Tibet Bosheng)? When will the shield machine of China Railway Tunnel Group start serving Xingye? On April 18, Xingye Silver and Tin responded on the investor interaction platform, The mining area of Yinman Mining resumed production on April 16, 2025; the "Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement" signed with China Railway Tunnel Group is an indicative framework agreement. If a formal cooperation agreement is signed later, the company will fulfill its information disclosure obligations in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and the company's articles of association based on subsequent progress. When asked, "Recently, antimony prices have hit new highs, reaching 230,000. Does the company have antimony resources among its many mines? The prices of silver and tin were very good in Q1, is there a pre-increase in the company's performance?" On April 17, Xingye Silver and Tin responded on the investor interaction platform, As of the end of 2023, the subsidiary Yinman Mining's mining license area contained 184,700 mt of antimony metal content. The company produces silver-lead concentrates and silver-copper concentrates containing antimony, sold in mixed powder form; in 2024, the company's antimony metal production was around 1,350 mt. For the company's Q1 2025 performance, please pay attention to the Q1 2025 report to be disclosed on April 28, 2025, on designated media. On April 16, Xingye Silver and Tin announced the progress of the safety accident at its wholly-owned subsidiary Yinman Mining: On March 9, 2025, a safety accident occurred during operations by the mining contractor of Yinman Mining, resulting in one death. After the accident, the mining area of Yinman Mining was shut down, while the beneficiation plant continued normal production. After the accident, the company conducted a comprehensive safety self-inspection and strictly implemented rectification measures. Currently, Yinman Mining has completed the relevant rectification work as required by the regulatory authorities. On April 15, 2025, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mine Safety Supervision Bureau issued the "Notice on the Resumption of Production of the 1.65 million mt/year Underground Mining Project (above 690 level) of the Baiyinchagan East Mountain Copper-Lead-Tin-Silver-Zinc Mine of Xiwuzhumuqin Banner Yinman Mining Co., Ltd." The notice stated: After review, the resumption of production of the 1.65 million mt/year underground mining project (above 690 level) of the Baiyinchagan East Mountain Copper-Lead-Tin-Silver-Zinc Mine of Xiwuzhumuqin Banner Yinman Mining Co., Ltd. is approved. According to the above notice, the mining area of Yinman Mining resumed production on April 16, 2025. Xingye Silver and Tin's announcement pointed out that the accident did not have a significant impact on the company's production and operations, nor did it have a significant adverse impact on the company's 2025 performance. The company will seriously learn from this accident, fully implement the main responsibility for safety production, and consistently integrate the concept of safety production into daily production and operations. The company will continue to increase the investment of human, material, and financial resources in safety management, and persistently focus on hazard investigation, awareness improvement, cultural promotion, education and training, daily supervision, and emergency response to ensure the safe, continuous, and stable operation of the company's production and operations. On April 11, Xingye Silver and Tin responded to investor inquiries on the interaction platform, stating that the stock price of the publicly listed firm is affected by macroeconomic conditions, market cycles, investor sentiment, and many other factors. The company's main products do not have export business, and tariff policies have not had a direct impact on the company's production and operations. The company's production and operations are stable, and there is no undisclosed information. The company will focus on the development of its main business in line with strategic development arrangements, and through stable operations, corporate governance, standardized operations, information disclosure, investor relations, and other aspects, it will work together to reward investor trust with steady performance growth and boost investor confidence. The company's management is confident about the future business development of the company and actively faces various challenges. Investors are invited to pay attention to the company's growth potential. Xingye Silver and Tin previously released its 2024 annual performance forecast, showing that the expected net profit attributable to the parent company in 2024 is 1.35 billion to 1.65 billion yuan, an increase of 39.27%-70.22% YoY; the expected net profit after deducting non-recurring gains and losses in 2024 increased by 32.77% to 62.06% YoY. Xingye Silver and Tin stated that the reasons for the performance pre-increase include: After the technological transformation of the beneficiation plant of the subsidiary Yinman Mining was completed (the beneficiation plant of Yinman Mining was shut down for technological transformation from June 9, 2023, and the beneficiation process was transformed to include cassiterite flotation, which was completed and put into use on July 10, 2023), the production of the main mineral products increased. During the reporting period, affected by the macroeconomic environment and changes in market demand for products, the selling prices of the company's main products such as tin concentrates, silver concentrates, lead concentrates, and zinc concentrates increased compared to the same period last year.
Apr 21, 2025 10:18According to customs data, China's antimony trioxide exports in March 2025 reached 901 metric tons, marking a month-on-month increase of approximately 7.38% compared to February's export volume of 839.42 metric tons. Many market participants noted that the renewed rise in antimony trioxide exports aligns with the current firmness in antimony prices, reflecting broader market dynamics.
Apr 21, 2025 09:20Following the inclusion of imported rare earth ore under control, China has been strengthening its export controls on rare earths. On April 4, the Ministry of Commerce, in conjunction with the General Administration of Customs, issued an announcement on the implementation of export control measures for seven categories of medium-heavy rare earth-related items, including samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium, which took effect immediately upon issuance. According to the announcement, the seven categories of medium-heavy rare earth-related items subject to export controls cover various forms such as metals, alloys, targets, oxides, and compounds. Caixin reporters learned that China's rare earth exports are dominated by light rare earths, with the largest export volumes of light rare earth elements including lanthanum, cerium, and neodymium; followed by some medium-heavy rare earth elements such as praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium. In terms of export destinations, light rare earths are mainly sold to the US, Japan, and the Netherlands, while medium-heavy rare earths primarily flow to Japan and South Korea. Industry insiders told Caixin reporters that the US mainly imports light rare earths such as lanthanum and cerium from China, and the implementation of export controls on medium-heavy rare earths this time may have a significant impact on Japan's rare earth imports. Some analysts told Caixin reporters, "Compared to other minor metals, the seven categories of medium-heavy rare earths subject to export controls this time are basically not produced overseas, but they have wide applications. After the export volume of medium-heavy rare earths is restricted, it is expected to impact domestic rare earth prices, with specific manifestations likely being an initial surge, followed by adjustments, and sustained price increases in the future. Due to their high strategic value and increasingly strict policy controls, medium-heavy rare earths may gradually shift towards high-end applications and indirect exports in the future." Caixin reporters noted that in December 2024, China implemented export controls on items such as antimony, further exacerbating the price spread between domestic and overseas markets. Data shows that in March this year, the domestic market price of antimony ingots surged to 162,500 yuan/mt, while the overseas market price had already reached 372,300 yuan/mt, with a price spread exceeding 210,000 yuan/mt. According to a research report released by China Securities on March 16, "China's control of antimony product exports — rising overseas market prices of antimony — 'flour being more expensive than bread,' domestic reduction in imported ore — domestic market shortages and rising antimony prices" this logical chain continues. In recent years, China has been strengthening its export controls on rare earths. Industry insiders told Caixin reporters that previously, China's restrictions on rare earth exports were mainly on upstream smelting and separation technologies. In terms of export product forms, light rare earths are mainly exported as oxides, carbonates, and primary alloys, while medium-heavy rare earths are more often indirectly exported as high-value-added products such as NdFeB permanent magnet materials. Public information shows that rare earths are strategic mineral resources contested globally, playing an important role in high-tech industries such as aerospace, national defense, electronics, and new energy. With the accelerated evolution of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, global supply chain security risks have become prominent, and the strategic value of rare earths has rapidly increased, becoming an important object of resource competition and industrial rivalry among major powers. As the only country in the world with the capability to produce the entire industry chain of rare earth products, China has introduced a series of policies to promote the high-quality development of the rare earth industry and ensure the safe supply of domestic rare earths. On December 1, 2024, the "Regulations on the Export Control of Dual-Use Items of the People's Republic of China" officially took effect. It is worth mentioning that after the implementation of these regulations, seven categories of medium-heavy rare earth-related items, including samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium, became the first dual-use substances explicitly included in export controls. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce stated that day that the related items have dual-use attributes, and implementing export controls on them is an international common practice. Rare earths are the collective name for 17 elements, including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium, and are non-renewable scarce strategic resources. Based on the atomic electronic layer structure and physicochemical properties of rare earth elements, as well as their symbiotic conditions in minerals and different ionic radii that produce different characteristic properties, the 17 rare earth elements can be divided into two major categories: light rare earths and medium-heavy rare earths. Among them, medium-heavy rare earths are more valuable than light rare earths due to their high value and low reserves. Data from Shenzhen Enterprise Investment Industry Research Institute shows that China dominates the global rare earth supply chain, controlling about 70% of global rare earth production and 90% of rare earth refining capacity. Other related data shows that China's rare earth production in 2023 reached 240,000 mt, accounting for about two-thirds of the global total, while its reserves reached 44 million mt, accounting for 40% of the global total. In terms of distribution, China's rare earth resources generally exhibit a characteristic of heavy in the south and light in the north. Among them, light rare earths are concentrated in Inner Mongolia, Sichuan, and other places, while ion-adsorption type rare earths (heavy rare earths) are distributed in Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Yunnan, and other places, accounting for more than 80% of global heavy rare earth reserves.
Apr 6, 2025 18:38