Nov. 28, 2010, 10:21 p.m. EST
Japan steps up efforts to procure rare earths
By Myra P. SAEFONG:
"TOKYO (MarketWatch) — Japan’s efforts to procure rare earths has continued to intensify in the face of reported declines in Chinese exports, with Toshiba Corp. and Sojitz Corp. recently announcing separate actions aimed at ensuring the nation’s supplies.
Japanese companies had been reporting large declines in imports of rare earths from China, particularly after the spat between the two nations in disputed waters in the East China Sea in August.
While imports have apparently been improving lately, Japan, the world’s largest rare-earth importer, “has moved to reduce its reliance on the Chinese supply of rare earths,” analysts at UBS said in a note to clients Friday.
Last week, Japan’s Sojitz Corp. (SZHFF) said it’s formed a distribution and financing alliance with Australia’s Lynas Corp. (AU: LYC) (LYSCF 1.55, -0.03, -1.90%) to help supply Japan with rare earths.
Toshiba (TOSBF 5.15, +0.15, +3.00%) has also developed technology for extracting rare earths and rare metals from a byproduct of uranium processing, according to a report in The Nikkei business daily Monday"...
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