China caps rare metals output, raises mandatory quota

BEIJING, April 25 (PTI): China, world's largest exporter of rare earth metals has raised the mandatory quota for the production and smelting of five minerals this year, said the ministry of industry and information technology (MIIT). The quota, set by the MIIT, the national development and reform commission and the ministry of land and resources, allocates the maximum quantity of the production and smelting of tungsten, tin, antimony, molybdenum and rare earth ores in 25 provinces or autonomous regions, the ministry said in a statement today. Only those enterprises that meet the requirements of national industrial and management policies can get the quota from local governments' supervisory departments and "no extra quota or production beyond the limit will be allowed," it said. According to it, the output control target for tungsten concentrates was 87,000 tonnes this year, up 8.75 per cent from last year's 80,000 tonnes. The output quota for tin ores rose 12.3 per cent to 73,000 tonnes from 65,000 tonnes in 2010. The maximum output limit for antimony concentrates was 105,000 tonnes, compared to 100,000 tonnes last year. The production quota for molybdenum concentrates was 200,000 tonnes, up from last year's 185,000 tonnes. MIIT reiterated the control target of rare earth oxide this year was 93,800 tonnes, up 5.16 per cent over previous year while the quota for rare earth oxide smelting was 90,400 tonnes.