China Sets Tungsten and Antimony Export Quota Y/Y Higher for 2011

Chinese Ministry of Commerce released the second export license (EL) of rare metals for 2011. The second quota was decreased by 7.3% for tungsten and by 6% for antimony compared with the second quota in 2010. Meanwhile, the annual quota totals 19,925 tonnes for tungsten, increasing by 2.2% year-on-year, and 68,281 tonnes for antimony, slightly increasing from 2010.

The annual quota for 2011 is set at 41,678 tonnes for molybdenum and 233 tonnes for indium, both of which were unchanged from 2010. Meanwhile, the second quota for tin is decreased by 9.1% compared with the second quota in 2010 and the annual quota is decreased by 12.2% to 18,437 tonnes from a year earlier.

EL for rare earths has not been announced yet. Japanese major rare metal trader forecasts the EL would be set unchanged from 2010. The reason is that new rare earth elements will be added to the EL though these elements have been regarded and exported as ferroalloy so far. Actually the government is likely to strengthen rare earth export regulation more.