China to issue revised 2011 Rare Earth Metals export quotas

In late 2010, Chinese government officials announced a 35% cut in allowable exports of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) during the first half of 2011.

On March 14, 2011, Beijing announced China will issue a second batch of rare earth export quotas later this year, but the total volume for 2011 has yet to be decided, the China Securities Journal said, citing Chinese commerce minister Chen Deming.

Reuters reported today that the decision on how much would be adjusted compared to last year was now in the "last stage of research". China produces around 97 percent of total global rare earth supplies, giving it a stranglehold on a range of elements used in wind turbines, defence technologies and batteries for mobile phones and laptop computers.

Reuters.com article on revisions to china's 2011 rare earth metals export quotas