Japanese media reports: Rare earths drop by 34.6%! Even more alarming, but cannot be reported

According to a June 20 report by Japan's Sankei Shimbun, China exported 123 tons of rare earth magnets to Japan, a 34.6% decrease from last month, marking the third consecutive month below 200 tons.

In January this year, China imposed export controls on dual-use items for military and civilian purposes targeting Japan, requiring individual approval for each rare earth import.

Rare earth magnets are one of the representative products of rare earths. Global exports in May totaled 4,730 tons, a 7.7% decline from the previous month.

The China-Japan Chamber of Commerce, composed of Japanese companies operating in China, issued a statement on the 11th of this month, calling for "smoother acquisition of rare earth export permits and increased transparency."

Given that rare earths are crucial for producing high-tech products, Japanese enterprises are growing anxious about the escalating impact.

Currently, Japanese media only report on the decline in rare earth exports. However, what industry in Japan truly fears is that imports of tungsten, dysprosium, and yttrium have been zero for four consecutive months, from February to May.

Bloomberg covered this issue, but domestic Japanese media, perhaps reminded by the Japanese government, almost never report it.

Shortages of these minerals are fatal for high-tech industries such as semiconductors, defense products, automobiles, and robotics.

Highashi said essential mineral stocks last three to six months. Yet factory warehouses are nearly empty (just like naphtha).

Nevertheless, Highashi shows no intention of improving relations with China. At the G7 summit, he directly criticized China, and engaged in boundary negotiations with the Philippines over waters east of Taiwan—all actions clearly anticipating China’s backlash, yet the Highashi cabinet continues to escalate tensions.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868528481229835/

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