Top Ten Companies in Rare Earths

Report Highlights

This report provides:

• Identification of the top 10 companies in the market for rare earths, and the rationale behind these selections.
• Factors taken into account, including technical innovation, market leadership, and commitment to this market via investment in products.

Report Scope

Introduction

Study Goals and Objectives

Rare earths are a group of 17 metallic elements that have similar chemical structures with unique properties. BCC has followed the rare earth market for more than 15 years, reporting on all the latest technical and market developments. During this period, consumption of these materials has expanded by a factor of three and many new products containing these elements have been introduced. With this study, BCC Research continues its commitment to monitoring the rare earth market with a special focus on the companies actively engaged in the mining, separation, production, and distribution of rare earths.

This study highlights the details of the top ten companies and the details of their mines and products as well as technology advancements, executives and present financial situations of these companies.  Some acknowledgement is made of how the geopolitical scene plays into the production and utilization of rare earths and the newer combinations of materials that are being investigated.

Reasons for Doing This Study

The first rare earths were discovered in the late 1700s, although commercial applications for these materials remained limited until the 1960s. During the last 50 years, due to the ongoing development of new applications, utilization of rare earths has steadily increased. Technologically advanced devices used in the automobile, defense, metallurgy, electronics and optoelectronics, chemical, energy, and other fields owe some of their outstanding properties to the presence of rare earths.

Once the United States was the world’s leading supplier but the mine was closed for environmental reasons.  The Chinese then became dominant in production. The principal reason for doing this study is to provide an updated and comprehensive assessment of the rare earth producers, particularly as it relates to the evaluation of mining projects worldwide, current and future availability of rare earths, and the status of companies that may change the availability and pricing of rare earths.

Methodology and Information Sources

Both primary and secondary research methodologies were used to obtain market data and analyze the overall market and market segments. All tables of composite production evaluation are referenced to the original report published by BCC Research as AVM018G in January 2012.

The technology section of this report is based on information derived from technical literature, related BCC reports, professional journals, the author’s field of experience, contact with embassy liaison officials, and online sources.

The original global market analysis was performed by analyzing 127 suppliers of rare earths, accounting for at least 90% of the global market. Data for each company were obtained by thoroughly analyzing Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, Internet websites, annual reports, industry directories, industry magazines and catalogs, government sources, and other public sources.

Additional data were obtained from the direct contribution of primary sources, including: company executives, managers, engineers and other technical personnel representing suppliers of rare earths and rare earth–based products; representatives of academia and trade associations; and industry market analysts.

Other sources of information include:

• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Filings.
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• European Patent Office.
• Company websites.
• Company annual reports.
• Yahoo Financial.
• Hoover’s Company Information.
• S & P Industry Survey.
• Bloomberg’s Businessweek.

Table of Contents

Chapter- 1: Introduction
Study Goals and Objectives
Reasons for Doing This Study
Intended Audience
Methodology and Information Sources
Related Bcc Research Studies
Custom Analyses
Analyst Credentials
Bcc On-Line Services
Disclaimer

Chapter- 2: Summary
Table Summary: Global Market for Rare Earths, Through 2016
Figure Summary: Global Market for Rare Earths, 2009-2016

Chapter- 3: Overview
Rare Earth Elements
Rare Earths Processing
How Rare Is Rare?

Chapter- 4: Applications and Uses for Rare Earth Elements
End Uses
Summary of Demand for Rare Earths by Industry

Chapter- 5: Rare Earth Element Production and Separations
Abundance and Deposit Types of Rare Earth Elements
Processing Steps
Indicated Global Rare Earths Production
Selected Areas of Rare Earths Resources
Summary of World Reserves of Rare Earths

Chapter- 6: Focus Companies
Top Ten Focus Companies for Rare Earths
Worthy of Being Mentioned

List of Tables

Summary Table: Global Market for Rare Earths, Through 2016
Table 1: Typical Properties of Lanthanoids
Table 2: Typical Rare Earth Content in Selected Rare Earth Minerals
Table 3: Processing Steps in The Rare Earth Industry
Table 4: Rare Earth Elements Applications in The Metallurgical and Mechanical Sector
Table 5: Rare Earth Applications in The Glass/Ceramic Sector
Table 6: Rare Earth Applications in Electronics, Optics and Optoelectronics
Table 7: Rare Earth Applications in The Chemical Sector
Table 8: Rare Earth Applications in The Energy Sector, 2011
Table 9: Rare Earth Applications in The Life Sciences Sector
Table 10: Rare Earth Applications in The Sensors and Instrumentation Sector
Table 11: Rare Earth Applications in The Consumer Sector
Table 12: Other Rare Earth Applications, 2011
Table 13: Global Demand for Rare Earths by Industry
Table 14: Rare Earths Abundance in Earth’s Crust
Table 15: Representative Rare Earth Content in Common Rare Earth Minerals
Table 16: Typical Processing Steps in The Rare Earth Industry
Table 17: Rare Earths Production by Country
Table 18: U.S. Rare Earth Resources
Table 19: Thor Lake, Canada - Nechalacho Ore Composition
Table 20: Eldor, Canada - Ashram Zone Ore Composition
Table 21: Strange Lake, Canada - B-Zone Ore Composition
Table 22: Oka, Canada - Typical Ore Composition
Table 23: Hoidas Lake, Canada - Typical Rare Earth Ore Composition
Table 24: Elliot Lake, Canada - Eco Ridge Rare Earth Ore Composition
Table 25: Canada Rare Earth Resources
Table 26: Araxa, Brazil - Typical Rare Earth Ore Composition
Table 27: Catalao, Brazil - Typical Rare Earth Ore Composition
Table 28: Tapira, Brazil - Typical Rare Earth Ore Composition
Table 29: Morro Do Ferro, Brazil - Typical Rare Earth Ore Composition
Table 30: Mato Preto, Brazil - Typical Rare Earth Ore Composition
Table 31: Brazil Rare Earth Resources
Table 32: India - Typical Monazite Ore Composition
Table 33: Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, China - Typical Bastnasite Ore Composition
Table 34: Maoniuping, Sichuan, China - Typical Ore Composition
Table 35: Southern China - Typical Monazite Ore Composition
Table 36: China Rare Earth Resources, 2011
Table 37: Vietnam Rare Earth Resources
Table 38: Global Rare Earth Reserves

List of Figures

Summary Figure: Global Market for Rare Earths, 2009-2016
Figure 1: Rare Earths in the Periodic Chart