Total Amount Control Index of Rare Earth and Tungsten Mining in 2021 Issued

September 30th, 2021 the Ministry of Natural Resources issued a notice on the total amount control index of rare earth ore and tungsten ore mining in 2021. The notice shows that the total amount control index of rare earth ore (rare earth oxide REO, the same below) mining in China in 2021 is 168000 tons, including 148850 tons of rock type rare earth ore (mainly light rare earth) and 19150 tons of ionic rare earth ore (mainly medium and heavy rare earth). The total mining control index of tungsten concentrate (tungsten trioxide content 65%, the same below) in China is 108000 tons, including 80820 tons of main mining index and 27180 tons of comprehensive utilization index. The above index include the first batch of indexes issued in the notice of the Ministry of Natural Resources on Issuing the total control indicators of rare earth and tungsten mining in 2021 (Natural Resources [2021] No. 24). In 2020, the total mining control index of rare earth mines (rare earth oxide REO, the same below) in China is 140000 tons, including 120850 tons of rock type rare earth mines (mainly light rare earths) and 19150 tons of ionic rare earth mines (mainly medium and heavy rare earths). The total mining control index of tungsten concentrate (tungsten trioxide content 65%, the same below) in China is 105000 tons, including 78150 tons of main mining index and 26850 tons of comprehensive utilization index.

Within 10 working days after the issuance of this notice, the indicators shall be broken down and distributed, and the total amount control indicators of rare earth mining shall be distributed to the mining enterprises subordinate to rare earth group.

After decomposing and Issuing the total amount control indicators for rare earth and tungsten mining, the relevant provincial (autonomous region) department in charge of natural resources shall organize the city and county-level department in charge of natural resources where the mine is located to sign a letter of responsibility with the mining enterprise to clarify the rights, obligations and liability for breach of contract. Local departments in charge of natural resources at all levels shall take measures to earnestly strengthen the verification and inspection of the implementation of rare earth and tungsten indicators, and accurately count the actual output of mining enterprises.

Light rare earth are mainly used in Samarium Coblat magnets and low temperature resistant grades of NdFeB rare earth magnets; while medium and heavy rare earth magnets are mainly used high end grades of sintered NdFeB magnets, especially for the application of servo motors, new energy electric vehicle motors, etc.