China Rare Earth Export to Resume, METI

Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akihiro Ohata said at press conference on Friday he expects Chinese rare earth export would resume in the month while some trading companies reported no confirmation for the shipping. He said many domestic rare earth users reported some improvement signs of the situation while Chinese rare earth export condition is unfavorable for Japan since late September.

Mr. Ohata said Chinese rare earth export started to improve after his meeting with Chinese National Development and Reform Commission’s Chairman Zhang Ping during Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Mr. Ohata said METI keeps talking with Chinese authorities in every chance for improvement of the situation.

METI’s nonferrous metals division director Tsutomu Murasaki said after Minister’s conference on Friday METI’s research for rare earth import from China to get answers from 32 companies by Thursday. The sixteen answers reported improvement signs in the situation. Some answerers reported Chinese suppliers will get export approval from Chinese authority. METI reported 2 rare earth cargoes from China was shipped on Wednesday among those cargoes, which were authorized the export in early October but were stopped the shipping for one and half months.