U.S. Geological Survey reports that domestic production and use of rare earths were not mined domestically in 2016. Bastnaesite, a rare-earth fluorocarbonate mineral, was previously mined as a primary product at Mountain Pass, CA, which was put on care and maintenance in the fourth quarter of 2015. The estimated value of rare-earth compounds and metals imported by the United States in 2016 was $120 million, a decrease from $160 million imported in 2015. The estimated distribution of rare earths by end use was as follows: catalysts, 55%; metallurgical applications and alloys, 15%; ceramics and glass, 10%; polishing, 10%; and other, 10%.
Import Sources (2012–15): Rare-earth compounds and metals: China, 72%; Estonia, 7%; France, 5%; Japan, 5%; and other, 11%. Imports of compounds and metal from Estonia, France, and Japan were derived from mineralconcentrates produced in China and elsewhere.
In 2016, excess global supply caused prices for many rare-earth compounds and metals to decline, and China continued to dominate the global supply. In China, the rare-earth mining production quota for 2016 was set at 105,000 tons, unchanged from 2015. China’s rare-earths industry continued its consolidation into six major industrial entities. Through September 2016, China had exported 35,200 tons of rare-earth materials, a 50% increase compared with exports for the same period in 2015. Production of rare-earth oxide equivalent in Malaysia, derived from concentrates mined in Australia, was 6,290 tons through June 2016, a 37% increase compared with the same period in 2015. Exploration efforts to develop rare-earth projects continued in 2016.
Exploration and development assessments in the United States included Bear Lodge, WY; Bokan Mountain, AK; Diamond Creek, ID; Elk Creek, NE; La Paz, AZ; Lemhi
Pass, ID-MT; Pea Ridge, MO; Round Top, TX; and Thor, NV. Additional projects were underway in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Greenland, India, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Turkey, and Vietnam.
World Mine Production and Reserves: The reserves estimates for Canada, China, India, Malawi, Russia, South Africa, Vietnam, and the United States have been added or revised based on new information from Government and industry sources. See mine production table in report.
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