Rare Earths MMI: No lanthanide concentrate processing limit extension for Lynas in Malaysia

The Rare Earths Monthly Metals Index (MMI) ticked up one point for a January reading of 20.
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Malaysian regulators opt not to increase Lynas’ processing limit

Lynas Corp., the largest rare earths firm outside of China, announced in December that Malaysian regulators did not increase the firm’s lanthanide concentrate processing limit for calendar year 2019.
The Australia-based miner and processor operates a refinery in Kuantan, Malaysia. Last year, the Malaysian government granted Lynas a six-month renewal of its license to operate in the country.
However, regulators opted not to extend the firm’s permitted lanthanide concentrate processing limit for 2019.

“The regulator has provided Lynas with a list of additional reports and management plans that the regulator now requires in order to reconsider the application,” Lynas said. “The processing limit resets on 1 January each year, and Lynas intends to reapply for an increase for CY20.
“As noted in our Quarterly Report released on 21 October 2019, production during the second 6 months of CY19 has been managed at reduced rates pending the regulator’s decision on the processing limit increase. As a consequence of the regulator’s decision, total NdPr production for CY19 will be similar to total NdPr production for CY18.”
In other news, last month Lynas announced it would build a new cracking and leaching plant in Kalgoorlie, Australia.

U.S. Army considers rare earths separation facility proposals

Given China’s overwhelming dominance of the global rare earths mining and processing market and in light of the U.S.’s ongoing trade war with China, the U.S. has been looking for alternative avenues for the acquisition of rare earths.
The aforementioned is especially true, as last May China threatened to restrict exports of rare earths, which are critical for a wide range of high-tech applications, from consumer electronics to military uses.
The latter usage is of course of interest to the U.S. Army, which has plans to fund the construction of new rare earths processing facilities, according to a Reuters report last month.
Circling back to Lynas, the Australian firm released a brief statement indicating interest in the potential U.S. project.
“The tender period has not yet closed,” Lynas Corp. said in a prepared statement Dec. 13. “Lynas would expect to submit a compliant tender.”
Of note, Lynas signed a memorandum of understanding with Texas-based Blue Line Corp. last year to form a joint venture aimed at building a rare earths separation facility in the U.S.
“Rare Earths separation capacity has been absent from the United States for several years, and the Lynas /Blue Line joint venture aims to fill a key gap in the United States supply chain,” Lynas said in a statement May 20, 2019. “Rare Earths are essential inputs to high technology, high growth industries in the digital age. The Lynas/Blue Line joint venture (JV) will help ensure that U.S. companies have continued access to Rare Earth products by providing a U.S. based source. The JV would be the only large-scale producer of separated medium and heavy Rare Earth products in the world, outside of China.”
Meanwhile, Reuters reported UCore Rare Metals Inc and Materion Corp will also jointly apply for Department of Defense funding toward buildout of a rare earths separation facility.

Chinese city launches rare earths exchange

As reported by Reuters, the Chinese city of Ganzhou has launched a new rare earths exchange on which spot transaction can be made for rare earths and other minor metals.
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According to the report, the exchange, which launched Dec. 31, 2019, is the second rare earths exchange in China (preceded by the Baotou Rare Earths Products Exchange in Inner Mongolia).

Actual metals prices and trends

The Chinese yttrium price rose 1.0% month over month to $32.31/kg as of Jan. 1. Terbium oxide jumped 3.8% to $506.93/kg.
Neodymium oxide ticked up 0.8% to $41,071.42/mt.
Europium oxide rose 1.0% to $30.88/kg, while dysprosium oxide jumped 7.8% to $251.31/kg.