日本首次从中国以外的渠道进口稀土

Group 1 - Sojitz Corporation has begun importing dysprosium and terbium from the Mount Weld mine in Australia, with the materials processed in Malaysia before being shipped to Japan [2] - Lynas Rare Earths, the operator of the Mount Weld mine, received an investment of 200 million AUD (approximately 930 million RMB) from a joint venture established by Sojitz and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) in 2023 [2] - Lynas will supply Japan with up to 65% of the mine's dysprosium and terbium output, which corresponds to about 30% of Japan's market demand [2] Group 2 - Dysprosium and terbium are classified as heavy rare earth elements, which are less abundant than light rare earths and are primarily used in manufacturing high-performance neodymium magnets for electric vehicles and wind turbine motors [3] - Japan views diversifying supply sources outside of China as a key aspect of economic security, as China currently accounts for nearly 70% of global rare earth production, with almost all heavy rare earth supply coming from China [3] - However, cost remains a significant barrier, as sourcing materials from Australia and the U.S. for processing in Southeast Asia will lead to higher costs compared to direct imports from China [3] Group 3 - The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has implemented export controls on rare earth-related technologies to safeguard national security and interests, requiring licenses for the export of specific technologies related to rare earth mining, refining, and manufacturing [4][5] - The announcement specifies that any export of controlled items without permission is prohibited, and exporters must apply for licenses to provide any assistance related to rare earth activities outside of China [6][8]