U.S. Department of Energy recently issued a warning, in new technologies such as wind power, electric vehicles and efficient lighting system using the five basic rare earth is facing a serious supply shortage.
Five kinds of rare earth elements dysprosium, terbium yttrium, neodymium and europium supply shortage has reached critical level, means that from now to 2015, supply problems may occur. According to the report in the research, may be even worse is that all five elements are almost no alternatives and produce a small range of channels. “This means that there might be unexpected out of stock or trade disputes, and quickly spread to the whole area of ​​new technologies.”

rare earth resources

Yttrium, mainly for the production of small portable fluorescent, 100% imported from China, because there is no other manufacturers for this metal refining process.

Dy, the magnetic material of the basic ingredients, you can work at high temperatures, for motor vehicles, but also mainly from China;

Tb, Dy the only alternative elements, the same is more scarce, prices are more expensive.

Production companies from 69 senior managers in the survey that at least seven manufacturing industries including automotive, chemical, aerospace and renewable energy industry will face a shortage of raw materials, industry downturn, because the 14 kinds of rare earth elements in the next five years will become in short supply.