As investors focus their attention on new projects aimed at increasing rare earth supply, a growing number of manufacturers are choosing to channel their efforts and capital toward recycling rare earth elements (REEs).

Japanese auto maker Honda announced that it has established the world’s first process to reuse rare earth metals extracted from nickel-metal hydride batteries to “recycle precious resources.”

It has been extracting an oxide containing rare earth metals from used nickel-metal hydride batteries at the plant of Japan Metals & Chemicals Company, according to a company update. Until now, auto manufacturers have had to rely heavily on rare earths; that is why an increasing number have been examining alternatives to reduce or replace the REEs that they use. Honda’s press release explains that by applying molten salt electrolysis to the extracted oxide it has successfully extracted metallized rare earth that can be used directly as negative-electrode materials for newly manufactured hydride batteries.

High extraction levels; high purity

Under the newly defined process, Honda is able to extract over 80 percent of rare earth metals from the used batteries at more than 99-percent purity, which is the same level as products traded directly from mines after refining.

News of the project’s success has been a long time coming, with the manufacturing giant first alerting investors to its plans last year. At the time the move was considered as unsurprising as the Japanese manufacturing sector sought alternative means of REE supply on the back of China’s continuous indecision surrounding REE export quotas. Market uncertainty eventually led to Japan, the United States and European Union forming an alliance that moved in on the World Trade Organization (WTO) to challenge China’s restrictive export policies.

The company confirmed a mass test run has been scheduled whereby it will extract rare earth metals collected from 386 Honda hybrid vehicles that were damaged in the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. This extracted material will then be sent to a battery manufacturer, who will reuse them as negative-electrode materials for new hybrid vehicles.

Following this, and as soon as a sufficient volume is secured, it says it will then begin applying the same process and recycle metals extracted from used batteries collected by dealers around the globe. It concluded the ultimate goal is to extract metals not only from batteries, but all other components in its vehicle lines too.

A rush for alternatives

While Honda has impressed investors by succeeding in its recycling goals and its plans to commercialize this recycling process, it is not the only company focused on innovation. Since the industry underwent a severe shake up in 2008, more and more manufacturers have begun seeking alternative solutions aimed at either decreasing their dependence on rare earths, or securing their own REE supply.

In 2012, Toyota announced that it had developed a method to manufacture hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) without the use of rare earth metals, while General Motors Company confirmed it was “close to a breakthrough” that would reduce its need for dysprosium, a rare earth in especially high demand. Japan’s Hitachi has been clear of its intentions to move away from the use of REEs, announcing¹⁶ in April last year a highly-efficient permanent magnet synchronous motor that employs an iron¹⁷-based amorphous metal in the core – and, crucially, no REEs.

Also, Ford  announced that its nickel-metal-hydride batteries will be replaced with lithium-ion alternatives in a move that could see the company cut 500,000 pounds of REEs from its manufacturing process annually, while the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Ames Laboratory confirmed that it too is working towards creating a method to remove neodymium from the mix of other materials in magnets.

                  

What does this mean for investors?

While manufacturers are showing a clear indication to wean themselves off REE dependence, the fact remains that these alternative processes and solutions are still in the very early stages. As these companies attempt to remain one step ahead of their competitors in the hunt for alternative sources of rare earth metals, they remain a long way off being able to rely on these methods completely.

With that said, the auto industry is famed for innovation and its ability to progress projects at a faster pace than other sectors, especially that of junior exploration firms, and this is something that is likely to play on the minds of investors. Honda’s latest announcement is a case in point, whereby it successfully managed to streamline its REE recycling process to a level that it claims is commercially viable within the space of only 12 months. If it is able to follow through on its goals of implementing this process on a commercial scale it could be destined for great things in the market.

Taking into account that the vast majority of REE projects are still years away from production, investors would do well to keep up to speed on progressions relating to recycling processes like these. Most will be unwilling to invest in a one dimensional company banking solely on schemes such as this and instead many will be looking to diversify their portfolio by adding companies that are focused on recycling processes, as well as securing an adequate source of supply.

One such company/partnership to watch is Toyotsu Rare Earth Canada, a subsidiary of the Toyota Motor Group, who entered a joint venture with Matamec Explorations  in which it is able to acquire a 49 percent undivided interest in the Kipawa heavy rare earth element (HREE) Deposit, based in Quebec. Matamec and Toyotsu’s agreement will not be the only instance of a partnership like this with manufacturers well aware that they cannot afford to rely solely on REE reclamation.

There is money to be made in all of this. A bearish market has led many to question the future of the rare earth sector, with auto manufacturers offering an enticing alternative. In the short term, potential near-term REE producers will likely remain investor favorites; however in the longer-term manufacturers will likely draw in a larger share of commodity-focused investors.

If certain sectors, such as the auto manufacturing industry, is able to wean itself off its reliance on REEs, investors will be lining up to follow companies that have led the way in seeking alternatives, with Honda, Toyota and Ford likely to prove definitive in the direction in which the REE market moves forward in the long term. Investors need to think long term and while manufacturers might make up the lions share of the supply chain today, they could very well be leading the market in the future.


Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

The rare earth market is relatively calm Monday, The market occasionally inquiry, there are so far no obvious change in price. Many businesses bearish market outlook, the rare earth market this year will continue to be the winter. Still late rare earth will remain plunges more than that on the rare earth price movements.
    
Alloy market price temporarily stabilized, but the case has no market value, currently praseodymium neodymium tax 40-41 yuan / ton, the individual regions excluding tax dropped to 335,000 yuan from 340,000 yuan / ton / ton, but 335,000 yuan / ton is still a mainstream price. Dysprosium tax 210 yuan / ton, iron the gadolinium iron-tax 15.5-16 million / ton.
    

Rare Earth Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

 

Japan-based Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. (TSE:57130) announced Monday it will build a scandium recovery pilot plant in the Phillipines.

The rare earth element plant will be built later this year on the southwestern Palawan Island, where the company's subsidiary Coral Bay Nickel Corporation is located, with operations slated to begin in 2014.

The company said it has been working on developing the recovery method at one of its research labs in Japan, according to Filipino GMA News.

Sumitomo also said small quantities of scandium are found in the ore used by Coral Bay to produce nickel-cobalt mixed sulfide.

The recovery forecast is for 10 kilograms per month. If the pilot plant is successful, Sumitomo plans to build a scandium oxide production facility for commercial quantities.

China, Russia, the Ukraine, and the US are major producers of scandium, with global production estimated at about 10 tonnes per year.

Scandium is a silvery-white metal used in a variety of applications, such as an additive to enhance heat/corrosion-resistance and strength of aluminum, as an electrolyte in solid oxide fuel cells as well as an electrode in metal halide lamps and alkaline batteries.


Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

Great American Energy, Inc. announces 2013 exploration plan details for the Company's Phase I Bear Creek Rare Earth Project in BC, Canada, which warrants a further work program based on the property's potential mineralization.

The Company's exploration plan has been designed to better determine the resource and production potential of the Bear Creek Rare Earth Project, which consists of 10 mining claims totaling ~7,311 acres (~2,959 hectares) that contain potential for significant resources of rare earth elements (REEs) and may contain rare earth oxides.[1] The property lies within the Rocky Mountain Rare Metal Belt, which runs from southeast to northwest BC.[2] In total, the BC Geological Survey has mapped 106 rare metal and/or REE occurrences in the province, most of which fall within the belt.[3]

The Company's Phase I 2013 exploration program will obtain the maximum geological data possible through geochemical and geological mapping. Both of these approaches will collect significant information by providing at least two initial layers of geological data that can be coupled with a subsequent Phase II geophysical program to identify drill targets. In addition, neither geochemical nor geological mapping require a work permit, enabling the exploration program to advance more quickly and at lower cost.

                  

The 2013 exploration work area covers an 8-km² area (4-km east-west by 2-km north-south). The area was selected from areas that previously underwent assessment work in 2010 and 2011; yielded the highest REE assay results; and which correspond with local regional faulting and the Intrusive known as the Trail Pluton.

The Phase 1 exploration program will initiate defining the structural components, mineralized zones and extent of outcrop hosting the Chromite cubes/tetrahedrons REE rocks. Geochemical soil sampling will be performed across a 200m east-west area with 100m line spacing and sample sites offset by 100m to optimally cover the target area. It is expected that roughly 350 to 375 soil samples will be collected across the target area.

Detailed geological mapping of the area will occur at the same time as the soil sampling program. Mapping will focus on lithology, structure, alteration, mineralization and veining. Coupled with the mapping program will be prospecting and rock sample collection (roughly 40 to 50 rock samples) for REE analysis across the area of study.

"Our geochemical soil sampling and geological mapping efforts will effectively advance our understanding and assessment of the Bear Creek Rare Earth Project," commented Felipe Pimienta, Great American Energy's CEO. "Once our Phase I data is in hand and analyzed, we'll be better able to evaluate the project's full potential while determining next steps toward quantifying the project's resource and production potential."


Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

Grace Catalysts Technologies, an operating segment of W. R. Grace & Co. announced today pricing and market related actions in its Refining Technologies business. Grace is discontinuing the rare earth surcharge pricing mechanism it instituted in 2010 in response to the high volatility in the costs of various rare earths used in Grace's FCC catalysts and additives. Rare earth costs have stabilized in the past six months and the company believes the surcharge mechanism is no longer appropriate. Grace will reset the base price for FCC catalysts and additives to reflect current rare earth costs, and then raise those base prices for FCC catalysts and additives 10 percent, as contract terms allow.

The price increases are necessary due to significant investments made in the businesses over the past few years and to support continued investment in R&D, technical services, and planned capital investments.


Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

Following the launch of the coking coal futures, the voice of the industry on the introduction of rare earth futures trading is getting high. Analysts said it may be difficult to meet the requirement of the futures contract for Standardization, due to its various classification of rare earth products.

It is understood that, as a rare resource, our reserves of rare earths accounted for about 23% of the world's total reserves. After years of efforts, China has become the world's largest country of rare earth production, application and export. Nevertheless, China's rare earth enterprises still don't have the pricing power in negotiations with foreign buyers.

In recent years, with the increasing intensity of the rare earth mining of foreign countries, which reduce their dependence on China's rare earth export to some extent, the domestic rare earth prices immediately plunged into a decline. According to the data released, the annual average price of rare earth in China fell by about 40% in 2012, which closed to being "cut", and the average market price of dysprosium oxide and terbium oxide suffered declines of 40% and 46.6% respectively.

                  

What deserves our attention is that the decline of domestic rare earth price is difficult to stop. Analyzing from an official statistics from Baotou city, we learn that the domestic price of some rare earth products will still falling.

In view of this, after four months' halts of production, China's largest rare earth producer - Baotou Steel Rare Earth recover its production. Following it are two other great producer of rare earth, who resumed their production also. Even though, most of other producers are still on the sidelines.

With the gradual resumption of production of rare earth producers, the strategic pruchase and storage occurs to producers again. Recentlly, Yan Chunhua, the deputies to the National People's Congress, suggested that our country should do purchase and storage on rare earth industries with reasonable price on the basis of mining demand.

In fact, as early as in 2011, when the prices of rare earth suffered from sudden rises and drops, producers had already put forward the function of rare earth futures to maintain the stability of rare earth market.

Even so, analysts still have some doubts on the launch of rare earth futures.


Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

2011 experienced skyrocketing rare earth prices in the short-lived after a series of crash to record lows, and application of rare earths market also continued downturn and shrinking.
    
"At present, the rare earth is not rare." Yesterday (March 14), the Chinese Academy of Land and Resource Economics, said Dr. Li Ruijun future global rare earth supply and demand imbalances in. Yesterday, China's rare earth seminar sponsored in metal mesh Shui Road 2012 (third) a number of rare earth industry veteran for the plight of rare earth overcapacity issue of deep concern. It is worth noting that, in this year's "two sessions", the National People's Congress, when interviewed by the media, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yan Chunhua recommended the establishment of a rare earth futures platform.
    
Excess, in the rare earth industry has become a topic can not be ignored. According to a statistics official from Baotou City, in February, the domestic part of the rare earth product prices continue to fall. Among them, the average price of rare earth carbonate 32,000 yuan / ton, the chain fell 600 yuan / ton, down 37,000 yuan / ton; cerium oxide average price of 49,000 yuan / ton, unchanged, down 54,300 yuan / ton; lanthanum metal The average price of 85,000 yuan / ton, a decrease of 400 yuan / ton, down 40,000 yuan / ton.
    
WANG Zhong Shan, vice chairman of the Nanjing Research on Rare Earth, said at the meeting, many rare earth production enterprises underemployment, many products on the market has no market value, especially in light rare earth backlog more serious. "Due to the impact of 2011 rare earth prices spike, many downstream applications enterprises start looking for alternatives, and also to reduce the actual demand for rare earth." GAO Yu Xin, Shui Road metal mesh rare earth industry analyst, said the past two months to see, this year, the rare earth market is still not optimistic, 2013 RE market is still facing a lot of problems, must crack down on smuggling, private mining digging wrongdoing, strict enforcement of environmental standards.

Tungsten Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

 

Rare earth price continue to decline after a spurt in price in 2011, in the application areas of rare earth situation is too, getting worse.  

“ rare earth is now not rare actually”, Li Ruijun of China Land and Resources Economy Research Institute, he told the reporter, saying :“the supply and demand of rare earth may get out of balance in the future.” Many experts in rare earth industry expressed the same worry as Li.

It is worth noting that, Yan Chunhua a NPC delegate suggested to accelerate the construction of rare earth futures transaction platform, when being interviewed by presses.

Surplus is a matter that can not be ignored. According to an official data in Baotou City, prices for some parts of rare earth products keep falling in February, among which, rare earth carbonate average price is 3.2 yuan/ton, down 600 year-on-year.

Vice president Wang Zhongshan of Nanjing Rare Earth Research Institution said that many rare earth manufacturers failed to come into operation, light rare earth products suffered heavy stockpiles.
“Because of the fluctuations of rare earth market price last year, many downstream companies have begun seeking for substitutes, thus reducing the demand for rare earth.” Said Gao Yuxin an industry analyst of Ruixin Metals Network.

Tungsten Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

Texas Rare Earth Resources Corp. , a heavy rare earths exploration company, today announced that on March 8, 2013 the Company completed its purchase of the surface lease at the Round Top project, known as the West Lease, from the Southwest Wildlife and Range Foundation (SWWRF) for $500,000 cash and 1,063,830 shares of restricted TRER common stock. TRER has also agreed to support the SWWRF through an annual payment of $45,000 for ten years to support conservation efforts within the Rio Grande Basin and in particular engaging in stewardship of Lake Amistad, a large and well-known fishing lake near Del Rio, Texas.

The West Lease comprises approximately 54,990 acres and is fully paid until 2028, thereby having a lease value of approximately $293,000. Most importantly, purchase of the surface lease gives TRER unrestricted surface access for the potential development and mining of its Round Top project.

                  

Dan Gorski, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are pleased to welcome the Southwest Wildlife and Range Foundation to the Texas Rare Earth team as shareholders and supporters of our project. Having complete and unfettered access to the deposit and to the adjacent lands necessary for all mine infrastructure is an important milestone in the development of this deposit and underscores the confidence we have in the economic viability of our Round Top project. Funding for this lease purchase is within our current budgetary guidelines and we believe adds significant long-term value.”

Susan Potts, Director and Secretary of the Southwest Wildlife and Range Foundation, stated “TRER is a good neighbor and steward of the natural resources in Sierra Blanca, and Southwest Range and Wildlife Foundation is pleased to be a part of the company going forward. We look forward to a long relationship with TRER in their continued efforts in total resource management of one of Texas’ crown jewel ranches and mineral deposits.”


Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

Honda Moto a Japanese car maker announced that they are able to make nickel-metal hydride batteries by abstracting materials from scrapped hybrid cars during the process they can abstract rare earth.

With the help of the new technology, Honda will make Honda said the recycle rate of rare earth will up to 80%, and the purity of abstracted rare earth metals will be 99% amount to that of the abstracted rare earth in the market.

In the plant of Honda, rare earth oxides are being abstracted from batteries in hybrid car batteries. Honda said that through melt-salt electrolysis these oxides will be able to abstract rare earth which is an important element in nickel-metal hybrid batteries.

Tungsten Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com