China Shifts to Normalize Rare Metals Export to Japan

China restarted rare metal export activity to Japan recently after substantive stoppage partly due to rare earth export stop to Japan amid diplomatic dispute between Japan and China. However, the rare metal export restarted after National Day holiday while the flight cargo remains unloaded for export shipping for tantalum and other items. Chinese export activity to Japan could take more time to get normal for rare metal and rare earth.

A source of Japanese tungsten importer said the cargo completed customs clearance last week and left Amoy port on Monday. China represents 80% of the world tungsten production. China stopped tungsten export to Japan as rare earth export but the export activity apparently improves when the dispute tones down.

A source of Japanese antimony oxide maker said the export shipping apparently moves forward from China. Another source of Japanese vanadium maker said Chinese cargo arrives normally in the month. Japanese many buyers arranged the delivery in and after mid-October due to a week long holiday in China in early October.

However, a tantalum importer source said the company cannot get the air cargo without sign to get normal. The importer tries to find alternative routes including ship cargo or flight via South Korea to secure the material.