1. Developing from bulk primary rare earth products to refined rare earth products
In the past 20 years, China’s rare earth smelting and separation industry has developed rapidly, with its variety quantity, production, export volume, and consumption ranking first in the world, playing a pivotal role in the world. Many rare earth separations ,the purification process can also be considered world-class. However, the quality and consistency of rare earth fine chemical products still lag behind the world’s advanced level. In recent years, the production capacity of major rare earth factories has far exceeded the demand in the domestic and international markets rare earth compound products are in a situation of oversupply, while rare earth fine chemical products have the characteristics of high technological density, high investment return, strong technological monopoly, and high sales profits, so the comprehensive economic benefits are considerable. Therefore,Domestic rare earth enterprises must make breakthroughs in this field in the coming years in order to maintain high profit margins and development speed.
2. Rare earth products are developing towards high purification, compounding, and ultra-refinement
The role of rare earths in the high-tech field can only be fully realized through their various physical and chemical properties after high purification. Rare earth purity of 5N or above is required for luminescent materials, laser materials, optoelectronic materials, etc; Non dilute,the requirement for soil impurity content is becoming lower and lower, with heavy metals such as Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb requiring a content less than 1 × 10-6. Therefore, high purification will still be a development direction for future rare earth products.
The development of new rare earth materials mainly relies on the formation of composite rare earth materials through a series of process processes between rare earth and other compounds, and compounding is the development trend of rare earth compound products.
The particle size of rare earth compounds will affect the quality of applied materials, because as the particle size decreases, the specific surface area also increases, the surface activity continues to improve, and the functions of rare earth compounds will be more fully utilized.
Chemistry can accelerate various physical and chemical reactions, and increase the binding force between particles. The ultrafine refinement of rare earth compounds is not only a complex and high-tech in-depth research, but also an important way to improve the economic value of rare earth compounds means. In addition, special requirements have been put forward for the specific surface area, crystal structure, morphology, and specific gravity of rare earth compounds.
3. Preparation processes and technologies with independent intellectual property rights will emerge
For many years, due to the unique nature of the industry, rare earth enterprises have high profit margins and low thresholds. Domestic rare earth compound enterprises generally have the problem of insufficient originality, and have been lacking in intellectual property protection for rare earth preparation technology. The phenomenon of infringement and infringement is very serious, resulting in a lack of core competitiveness among production enterprises. With China’s entry into the WTO, this situation will change in the coming years, Various rare earth enterprises and research institutions will increase their research investment in the field of rare earth compound preparation, and it is expected that a large number of rare earth compound preparation processes and technologies with independent intellectual property rights will emerge.
4. The cooperation between enterprises, research institutions, and universities will be further strengthened
There is a common problem of insufficient originality among domestic rare earth production enterprises. Although research institutes have a certain level of originality in scientific research, there is also a lack of engineering technology experience. Therefore, combining the two and jointly developing the industry is the development trend in the coming years.
5. The speed of foreign investment entering China will accelerate, leading to new competition in the industry
Since the 1990s, foreign investment, represented by French company Rodier and Canadian company AMR, has entered Chinese rare earth compound enterprises with successful operations. Advanced management experience, smooth sales channels, emphasis on scientific research originality, and local resource and manpower advantages have all brought rich returns to joint ventures. Due to the guidance of a series of successful examples, this trend will accelerate. Therefore, it will lead to new competition in the industry.
6. Enterprises with small individual scale and lack of characteristics will be eliminated
Since the 1990s, the rare earth industry has experienced multiple fluctuations, with prices of rare earths in China falling and falling again. There has been a trend of approaching average profits from excess profits, and even sales have been reduced below the profit line in order to seize the market. Under market economy conditions, small enterprises without characteristics will be eliminated, leaving behind enterprises with large scale and high product added value. This economic law is no exception in this industry.
7. The structure of rare earth products will undergo changes
Overall, the growth rate of rare earth usage in traditional fields is relatively slow, and the field that can increase the demand for rare earth belongs to the new materials field. Therefore, the structure of rare earth compound products should be suitable for the needs of the new materials field. At present, the growth rate of neodymium iron boron magnetic materials is 30% to 40%, so the use of neodymium will rapidly increase. All rare earth compound enterprises should focus on neodymium compound composition, ensuring both the supply of neodymium and the balanced application of otherrare earth compounds.
Post time: Nov-02-2023