It displays 56 companies involved in this sector

China is the OPEC of rare metals. "So Sean Brodrick, American star of raw materials used to Weiss Research, summarizes the situation. From metals of rare-earth - praseodymium with neodymium, dysprosium, terbium, lanthanum, cerium, samarium, europium and another - are little of them. Their names are known only by the sharp specialists. However, their importance is crucial. This group of 15 elements has irreplaceable properties both on its chemical, only electrical, metallurgical, optical or magnetic.

Rare metals are found in number of products, such as new bulbs that save energy, hybrid vehicles, catalytic systems, additives for diesel, flat panel displays, digital cameras or even hard disks. An example Each electric motor of the Toyota Prius model requires 2.2 pounds of neodymium, and 22 to 33 pounds of lanthanum on-board batteries. In the production of this engine, which should equip the million of these models that the Japanese automaker market annually by 2012 (2 to 3 million by 2014) are also the terbium and dysprosium.

56 companies in the sector

These metals are also essential for the manufacture of sensitive high technology products such as superconductors, miniaturized magnets, lasers and optoelectronic systems. Many of these products are integrated into strategic telecommunications and military equipment.

However, unlike good number other mineral resources for the industry, rare abound in China. The former empire of the Middle produced more than 95 from the rare earth metals. It displays 56 companies involved in this sector. The Inner Mongolia contains it only roughly 75 of all of China's reserves of rare earth. Chinese mining production of these elements is raised to 120,000 tonnes in 2008 out of a total world of 124,000 tonnes. These figures are the result of a recent estimate of experts from the US Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Reserves, 88 million tonnes in total, are however better divided: about 31 in China. almost 22 in the States of the former Soviet Union; 14 in the United States and 6 in Australia for the major countries. The Outlook for growth in this market is very promising. Sean Brodrick considers that, within three to five years, global demand should extend beyond the offer of the order of 40,000 tonnes per year.

Concern of the West

The value of the transactions on these metals in 2008 reached $ 1.25 billion. This amount should culminate at 3 billion by 2015. This is why rare mineral projects abound, especially in the Canada, in the United States and Australia. But China does not intend to make life easier for foreign competitors. Consumer about 80 of rare earth metals, it intends to keep the absolute supremacy on these products. In two ways. On the one hand, in its draft plan 2009-2015 for the development of rare earth, Beijing argues the idea of banning purely and simply exports of dysprosium, terbium, thulium, lutetium, and yttrium. The plan also envisages to restrict sales abroad of the other elements of the Group less than 35,000 tonnes per year.

The outcry aroused by these proposals yesterday forced the Government to soften somewhat its position on the exports of dysprosium and terbium which would, according to Wang Caifeng, the Executive Director of the Department, the raw materials of the Ministry of industry and information technology (MIT), simply quota and not blocked.

The second branch of the Chinese offensive to dominate the world of rare-earth is to focus on foreign deposits, as shows the attempt of taking control of the Australian producer Lynas Corporation after the acquisition in June of a strategic stake of 25 in compatriot Arafura Resources. The two companies plan to start operation of new mines capable of delivering one-quarter of the annual global production of rare earth in the next two years. It was no more needed to arouse the concern of industrialists from Western countries.