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一克就要10美元!美国用“比黄金还金贵”的稀有金属,卡中国航空脖子
Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-08-17 05:09

Core Viewpoint - The recent contract between the U.S. and a Chilean mining company highlights the strategic importance of rhenium, a metal more scarce than gold, which is crucial for modern aviation engine technology and is seen as a strategic leverage against China's aviation industry [1][5]. Rhenium Supply and Demand - Rhenium, element 75 on the periodic table, is extremely rare in the Earth's crust, with only about 2,000 tons of proven reserves globally, significantly lower than the annual production of over 3,000 tons of gold. Chile holds over half of the global reserves (approximately 1,300 tons), while the U.S. has about 400 tons, and China only possesses around 237 tons, primarily in molybdenum mines in Shaanxi and Anhui [2]. - The unique physical properties of rhenium make it an ideal material for turbine blades in aircraft engines, which operate under extreme conditions. The F119 engine blades of the U.S. F-22 stealth fighter contain a high percentage of rhenium, and the CJ-1000A engine of China's C919 aircraft also relies on high-performance rhenium alloys. However, China faces a significant challenge as it relies on imports for 90% of its rhenium, leading to high costs and supply chain risks. The price of rhenium has surged to several thousand dollars per kilogram, exceeding gold prices, and has increased by 15% since 2023, resulting in over a 10% rise in the cost of Chinese aircraft engines [4][6]. U.S. Control Over Rhenium Supply - Although the U.S. does not have the largest rhenium reserves, it effectively controls the global supply chain by securing long-term contracts with major rhenium-producing countries like Chile and Kazakhstan. The U.S. imports 40 tons of rhenium annually, using 25 tons and storing 15 tons in strategic reserves, totaling 400 tons, which is significantly higher than its own reserves. The U.S. also maintains a technological edge in manufacturing turbine blades and imposes high prices and technology restrictions on Chinese companies, reinforcing its "rhenium hegemony." The upcoming Critical Minerals Security Act and the establishment of a "mineral alliance" with countries like Australia and Canada further enhance the U.S.'s resource control and political leverage [5]. Challenges and Responses in China's Aviation Industry - The shortage of rhenium poses severe challenges for China's aviation industry, hindering research and development progress and threatening production. For instance, a research center in Xi'an had to adjust the rhenium content in the CJ-1000A engine blades due to unstable supply, resulting in performance testing failures. If the U.S. fully restricts rhenium exports, China could face a significant rhenium shortfall, jeopardizing the mass production of the C919 aircraft and the domestic development of military engines [6]. - In response to these challenges, China is taking several measures: - Increasing domestic mining efforts, with the Anhui Zhanling rhenium mine already in operation, despite limited reserves. Geological exploration is ongoing to discover new rhenium resources [7]. - Developing recycling technologies to recover rhenium from discarded aircraft engine blades, achieving a high recovery rate, which helps alleviate supply pressure [7]. - Expanding partnerships with countries like Kazakhstan and exploring collaborations in Africa and Central Asia to diversify supply sources and mitigate risks [7]. - Researching alternative materials, such as new high-temperature alloys and improving processes to enhance rhenium usage efficiency [9]. - Leveraging China's advantages in rare earths, gallium, and germanium to negotiate favorable conditions in international discussions [9]. Conclusion - The U.S. aims to use rhenium to constrain China's aviation industry, but this may accelerate China's innovation in critical technologies. China is actively working on resource development, recycling, material substitution, and international cooperation, which will ultimately help overcome the "rhenium dilemma" and achieve greater autonomy in aviation engine production [11].