Neodymium - Is China starting to throw it's weight around ??

China has DOUBLED it's prices on neodymium in the last few months. Can't wait to see how this will effect the ALS cost

http://www.ipmd.net/news/001192.html

China has a strangle hold on rare metals.
Actually, gangs like the drug cartels have developed there to control it.

It is a bigger deal in the long run than most understand.

Makes me glad I already have my Bassmaxx ZR18s, which have lots of neodymium magnets in them..

The price of titanium has also gone up drastically in the past couple of years. Once again, a China stronghold.

Nuk'em!

When you don't have to worry about environmentalists and special intrest groups - you can produce whatever resource the world wants....and charge accordingly.
Maybe there is a lesson there for those of us in the First (to pay too much) world.
Just sayin'

The funny thing about the Chinese stranglehold on "strategic elements" is that almost ALL of theese elements are plentiful in the US. But the companies that USED to mine them here have been systematically shutting down their mines in the US, Canada, and Australia, and moving their operations to Asia.

Most of these new mines and processing plants in China are actually outfitted, equipped, trained, and owned (partially) by the big US-based transnational mining concerns.

When the Chinese government or business cartels decide they don't want to sell to the US, or want to jack their prices by 100% or more, the Transnational corporations (that USED to operate the same kinds of mines in the US) can STILLpocket the money from these strategic minerals, but We the People get screwed, what is left of our industry gets screwed, and even our Military is put at risk because of the higher cost and even limited availability of these resources.

Ain't Globalism grand?...

Thanks to government and enviro-Nazi regulations. In a country where making guitars can get you a SWAT raid, I make nothing. If I were to start a manufacturing plant, I'd go overseas.

Ain't Globalism grand?...

Hmmmm, Globalism or Environmentalists? Which had more of a hand in this? You decide.

treitz3 wrote:
The price of titanium has also gone up drastically in the past couple of years. Once again, a China stronghold.

Chauss wrote:
Titanium is an alloy....


Nope, Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22.

Chauss [the sneaky little bastard] deleted his post.

Back to the point. Yes, I think China IS starting to throw it's weight around.

Chauss [the sneaky little bastard] deleted his post.

Back to the point. Yes, I think China IS starting to throw it's weight around.

We all knew it was coming !

From the article...

The price of neodymium, a rare earth mineral used for making rare-earth magnets, increased to 600,000 yuan ($91,415) per ton this week (wb 21/3/11) from 300,000 yuan ($45,707) per ton at the end of 2010.
enews257

The tax is part of a series of new measures unveiled by the Chinese authorities affecting the industry. The Ministry of Environmental Protection announced earlier this month that tougher rules on emission limits for producing rare earths will take effect in October 2011.

It hasn't even begun.

That's really sad. The new AL's may die before they begin !

treitz3 wrote:
The price of titanium has also gone up drastically in the past couple of years. Once again, a China stronghold.

Chauss wrote:
Titanium is an alloy....


Nope, Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22.

Most Ti purchased for the manufacture of goods IS an alloy! - Mixed with another metal ie" aluminum, molybdenum, iron, etc...
Ti in its pure form is very granular and chrystaline. SO OO- tell me exactly where PURE Ti is used please?

Lest we forget....I used to own a machine shop- but figured it was useless information here which is why I deleted my post.

Cheers!

Pure RAW Ti below....