Markt & Technik, is asking the question which in the minds of majority in the electronic industry we face already for years. Shortages occur periodically, remember the Osaka earthquake (90's) where a major resin producer was put out of business causing several months long shortage of resin used to package IC's?
Material used for production of HD, batteries, flat displays and so on. China is the exporter of 93% of world supply of rare earth materials
http://www.baotou-rareearth.com/?gclid=CIv8p4mnu6MCFUQq3wodDFhcdg.
Recently China decided to reduce its exports successively and by 2015 to stop exporting them all together.
Apparently export limits are drastic, For export destined rare earth materials were 22.24 t. in the first 6 months of 2010, comparing that with only 7.98 t. for the second half of 2010, making total exports in 2010 amounting to just over 30 t. Comparing that with exports of over 50 t. in 2009. Europeans and the Americans are concerned that China could use its superior position to dictate prices in the future. Gontermann is noting tat already in July prices on some of these rare materials rose by up to 50%. This could lead to distortions in the supply chain, and even to its collapse.
In response the US and Australia is working hard to increase supply of these rare materials to compensate the coming shortage but authorities warn that will take at least 2 years to make up for the difference.
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