China lifted rare earth production quotas for 2019

SHANGHAI, Nov 14 (SMM) – China raised the 2019 quotas of rare earth output for six state-owned mining companies, according to a statement by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) published on November 8. 

The adjustment was in line with the market appeal for more supply of the prized minerals. 

The full-year rare earth mining quota rose 12,000 mt from 2018, all for light rare earth elements, to 132,000 mt for 2019, with the quota for rare earth smelting and separation up 12,001 mt, standing at 127,000 mt. 

Mining quota for medium- and heavy- rare earth, meanwhile, remained unchanged from 2018. 

MIIT typically issues the rare earth quotas twice a year for each six-month period. 

Quotas for the first half of this year were set at 60,000 mt for mining and 57,500 mt for smelting and separation.