欧盟坦白，对华稀土无力破局？私下警告27成员国：短期内只有忍耐

Core Viewpoint - The EU's response to China's rare earth export licensing system has shifted significantly, moving from public declarations to a more subdued internal communication urging member states to endure the current situation as China maintains a strong grip on the rare earth market [1][3]. Group 1: EU's Reaction to China's Export Control - Unlike previous instances where the EU would publicly advocate for fair trade, the current situation has seen a muted response, with nearly 2,000 rare earth import applications submitted by European companies, but less than half have been approved [3]. - The EU has issued a private directive to its member states to tolerate the situation, indicating a shift from a confrontational stance to one of patience [1][3]. Group 2: Importance of Rare Earth Elements - Rare earth elements are critical for key EU industries such as electric vehicles, wind energy, semiconductor manufacturing, and high-end military applications [5]. - In 2024, the EU's rare earth imports are projected to decrease by 29.3% year-on-year to 12,900 tons, with 46.3% sourced from China and 28.4% from Russia, highlighting a significant dependency on these two countries [5]. Group 3: Economic Impact on the Automotive Industry - The German automotive industry, which heavily relies on rare earth components, is particularly affected, with 59.86% of its revenue linked to these materials [7]. - Volkswagen has reported a 30.6% decline in net profit for 2024 and a 10% drop in sales in China, attributing these issues to rare earth shortages [7]. Group 4: Future Demand and Supply Gap - The demand for rare earth elements is expected to grow, with EU electric vehicle sales projected to exceed 5 million units by 2025, leading to a near fivefold increase in rare earth demand compared to 2020 [9]. - The wind energy and semiconductor sectors are also facing challenges due to their reliance on rare earths, particularly heavy rare earths, which are predominantly supplied by China [9]. Group 5: EU's Efforts to Reduce Dependency - The EU has invested €22.5 billion in domestic rare earth mining and processing since 2020, aiming to establish a supply chain alliance with the US and Japan to reduce reliance on China by 2030 [11]. - Despite these efforts, the EU's dependency on Chinese rare earths has only slightly decreased from 51% to 46.3% over five years, indicating minimal progress [12]. Group 6: Challenges in Reducing Dependency - The EU faces significant technological barriers, particularly in the separation and purification of rare earths, where China's advanced methods dominate the market [14]. - The EU's natural resource limitations are evident, as it lacks substantial heavy rare earth resources, which are crucial for high-end manufacturing [14]. Group 7: Geopolitical and Operational Challenges - Attempts to source rare earths from Africa have been hindered by prior investments from Chinese companies, complicating the EU's efforts to diversify its supply [16]. - The geopolitical instability surrounding Russian supplies adds another layer of uncertainty to the EU's rare earth sourcing strategy [16]. Group 8: Time Constraints and Recycling Issues - The lengthy process of rare earth mining and environmental approvals poses a significant challenge for the EU, with some projects taking over a decade to become operational [17]. - Despite initiatives for recycling rare earths, such as the establishment of a major recycling facility in Germany, high operational costs have led to its closure, revealing the difficulties in achieving the EU's recycling targets [17].