Myanmar suspends rare earth ore exports to China

17 December 2019
Myanmar suspends rare earth ore exports to China
Heavy earth-excavators and trucks parked at the HpaKant jade mining area, Kachin State, northern Myanmar. Photo: EPA

Myanmar has closed the border to China to suspend rare earth ore exports to the top rare earth processor, in view of the environmental damage and conflicts caused by Chinese miners’ unregulated operations, SMM News reported.

The border will remain closed until mining operations are rectified, which grows concerns about supply of ion-type rare earth ores, feedstock for medium-to-heavy rare earth products.

This is set to boost prices of medium-to-heavy rare earth products significantly in the new year, when demand recovers from year-end cash flow pressure.