《日经新闻》1月9日称，中国正在收紧对日本军民两用物项出口管控，对日本的稀土相关产品出口限制 范围已覆盖民用领域。另据法新社报道，日本将于11日开展罕见的深海稀土试采计划，巴望以此降低对 华依赖。 针对两用物项出口管制一事，中国商务部新闻发言人何亚东8日强调，中方始终致力于维护全球产供链 稳定与安全，涉及民事用途的不会因此受到影响。对于开展正常民用贸易往来的相关方，完全没有必要 担心。 但日媒炒作称，出口管制已给相关企业造成困扰：企业在申请对日出口许可时屡遭中方主管部门驳回； 此外，主管部门虽接收部分出口申请，但审批耗时远超常规周期。 《日经》采访的业内人士称，事实上，出口核查收紧的举措在官方声明发布前就已启动。 日本航空自卫队F-35B隐形战机。尖端武器的生产离不开稀土材料。 视觉中国 【文/观察者网 柳白】 面对中方反制雷霆之势，做贼心虚的日本一边拉盟友壮胆，另一边打起了深海稀土的主意。 报道说，中方主管部门正严格核查稀土相关产品的最终用户身份及用途，这使得出口许可证的核发难度 大幅增加，仅在两类情形下会予以放行：一是产品在日本加工后转口至美国；二是相关产品由特定日本 企业使用。 一名日本政府官员表示：" ...

1 月 6 日，一则重磅消息引发全球关注：鉴于日本近期的恶劣表现，中方正考虑针对性收紧 7 类中重稀土相关物项的出口许可审查。这 7 种被称为 "科技工 业维生素" 的关键资源 —— 钐、钆、铽、镝、镥、钪、钇，早已在 2025 年 4 月纳入出口管制，如今的审查升级，无疑击中了日本产业的 "命脉"。 中重稀土：不止是矿产，更是战略王牌 一旦出口审查收紧，日本汽车、电子零部件、风力发电、医疗设备及航空航天五大领域将首当其冲。野村综合研究所测算，若限制持续 3 个月，日本将损失 6600 亿日元，GDP 下降 0.11%；持续一年损失更是高达 2.6 万亿日元，相当于直接砍掉 0.43% 的年 GDP。对于以高端制造为核心竞争力的日本来说，这无 疑是 "釜底抽薪"。 很多人觉得稀土只是普通矿产，实则是现代科技的 "核心密码"。其独特的物理化学性质，让它在高端制造、国防科技等领域无可替代。 在永磁材料领域，铽、镝等重稀土是高端钕铁硼磁体的 "关键添加剂"，能让磁体在高温环境下保持稳定，这是新能源汽车驱动电机、风力发电机的核心部 件。而钐钴磁体更是航空航天发动机、石油钻井设备等极端环境的 "专属选择"，没有它，很多 ...

Group 1 - The rare earth metal market, particularly yttrium, has seen a dramatic price increase, with prices soaring 15 times in one year and some Western markets experiencing a rise of up to 4400% [1] - Yttrium is crucial in high-tech industries such as aerospace, medical devices, and semiconductors, serving as a key material in high-temperature superconductors, LED lighting, and precision medical equipment [1] - The military applications of yttrium include its use as a high-temperature shield in turbine blades for aircraft engines, highlighting its strategic importance [1] Group 2 - China's dominant position in yttrium production, combined with strict export controls set to take effect in April 2025, has led to a significant supply-demand imbalance, with exports expected to drop by 78% in the first half of 2025 [3] - The export control measures are part of China's strategic reassessment of its rare earth resources, aiming to return their value to a reasonable level rather than simply cutting off supply [3] - The U.S. Department of Defense has recognized the risks in the rare earth supply chain and is taking steps to secure domestic production by acquiring a stake in MP Materials, the only rare earth producer in the U.S. [5] Group 3 - The construction of a mature rare earth supply chain requires long-term technological accumulation, and MP Materials is not expected to start effective yttrium production until mid-2026 [6] - Global exploration for rare earth alternatives is underway, with companies like Lynas in Australia working to increase yttrium production capacity, although specific growth figures remain unclear [6] - The competition for rare earth resources is intensifying, with China maintaining a unique advantage in the complete rare earth supply chain, thus gaining international influence over resource value distribution [6] Group 4 - The demand for rare earth metals in advanced technology sectors is growing irreversibly, with applications expanding across aerospace, high-end medical, renewable energy, and information technology industries [8] - The U.S. attempts to decouple its supply chain and the international focus on rare earth resources indicate a fierce strategic competition for these materials [8] - The volatility in yttrium prices reflects the normal market economic principles and the broader geopolitical dynamics surrounding resource interests [8]

Core Insights - The price of yttrium, a critical rare earth element, has surged nearly 1500% this year due to severe supply imbalances, highlighting the fragility of global supply chains for key materials [1][4] - Yttrium's price has reached a historical high of $126 per kilogram, while projections for the end of 2024 suggest prices may drop to below $8 [1] - The rare earth market is experiencing significant supply constraints, with ongoing trade tensions between major economies exacerbating the situation [4] Supply Chain Dynamics - The reliance on a single source for over 90% of U.S. yttrium imports has rendered the supply chain particularly vulnerable to disruptions [4] - Western producers are ramping up efforts to address supply shortages, but short-term solutions are unlikely to fill the gap [4] - MP Materials Corp., supported by the Pentagon, is extracting yttrium at its Mountain Pass project but is currently stockpiling materials for future expansion rather than supplying the market [4] Production Expansion Efforts - Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. in Australia is increasing production capacity at its Mount Weld mine and processing plant in Malaysia to boost yttrium output [5] - The establishment of a diversified rare earth supply chain is expected to take time, indicating ongoing challenges in meeting demand [5]

Group 1 - China will implement export controls on seven rare earth elements starting April 2025, which are critical for high-end manufacturing in defense and technology sectors [3][12] - The U.S. military heavily relies on imported rare earth elements, with 92% of its needs met through imports, over 70% of which come from China [5][10] - The price of rare earth elements has surged from $425 per kilogram to $850 per kilogram, indicating a significant supply-demand imbalance [14] Group 2 - The U.S. lacks the capability to independently refine all heavy rare earth elements, which are essential for advanced military equipment like the F-35 fighter jet [10][20] - China controls 85% to 95% of global rare earth processing capacity, while the U.S. has almost no commercial heavy rare earth separation facilities [21] - The U.S. faces high costs and strict environmental regulations that hinder its rare earth mining and processing capabilities, making it difficult to compete with China's low-cost production [21][22] Group 3 - A wave of executive departures in China's rare earth industry has raised concerns about potential technology leaks, prompting the government to strengthen its technology sovereignty measures [24][26] - China has established a tracking system for rare earth exports to prevent military misuse and has intensified efforts to combat illegal exports [26][28] - The strategic value of China's rare earth resources has become a significant leverage point in geopolitical tensions, particularly as Western nations attempt to decouple from Chinese technology [28][30]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights the historical significance of the recently signed U.S.-Ukraine mineral agreement, which is expected to open new avenues for cooperation between the two nations [6][9] - The U.S. is set to gain access to "a large amount of very high-quality rare earths" as part of this agreement, which has been approved by the Ukrainian parliament [1][9] - The agreement is seen as a response to the ongoing conflict and aims to facilitate the establishment of a U.S.-Ukraine reconstruction investment fund [9][11] Group 2 - The development of Ukraine's mineral resources is projected to take at least 10 years, and there is currently insufficient data to prove the economic viability of mining most of Ukraine's mineral resources [8][11] - The recent surge in overseas rare earth prices, particularly due to China's export controls, has created a sense of urgency among buyers, although actual transactions remain limited [14][16] - The U.S. rare earth company MP Materials has been heavily reliant on Chinese partners for refining rare earths, indicating that even with increased domestic mining, processing may still depend on China [17][19] Group 3 - The geopolitical context includes ongoing negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, with calls for a 30-day ceasefire, which may impact the stability and attractiveness of investment in Ukraine's mineral sector [7][27] - Russian officials have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of ceasefire agreements, citing numerous violations and the challenges of establishing a fair monitoring mechanism [29][30]

Group 1 - The U.S. has a long-term reliance on imports for critical mineral resources, which has led to increased resource acquisition costs for related manufacturing due to "reciprocal tariffs" [1] - A new agreement has been signed between Ukraine and the U.S. to establish the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, aimed at investing in mining, oil, gas projects, and related infrastructure [1] - Ukraine holds a significant position in the global mineral resource supply chain, with over 8,000 identified mineral deposits and 22 out of 50 critical minerals listed by the U.S. [2] Group 2 - The U.S. Department of Energy has included 50 types of mineral products in its critical minerals list for 2023, with a significant portion of these being heavily reliant on imports [2] - A trade investigation has been initiated by the Trump administration to assess the impact of imported critical minerals on national security, which may lead to the imposition of tariffs [3]

Group 1 - The core issue of the trade war is the significant impact on high-tech industries in the U.S., particularly the reliance on rare earth elements from China, which are essential for various technologies including electric vehicles and defense applications [1][2][3] - The U.S. retail sector is heavily dependent on Chinese imports, with companies like Best Buy indicating that approximately 60% of their sales costs come from China, leading to potential price increases for consumers [4][5] - The ongoing trade tensions have resulted in a drastic reduction in U.S. exports to China, particularly in the beef sector, where exports dropped by 92% in March, highlighting the severe repercussions of the tariffs [6] Group 2 - The semiconductor industry in the U.S. faces challenges due to its 50% reliance on imports of critical materials like germanium and gallium from China, which could jeopardize domestic manufacturing efforts [3][6] - Boeing is experiencing headwinds as the trade conflict affects its sales to Chinese airlines, which are significant customers, with potential delays in aircraft deliveries due to tariffs [7] - The energy sector's impact appears limited, as U.S. LNG exports to China are minimal, allowing for a shift in export destinations without significant disruption [7]