China's proposed ban of rare-earth metals would affect hybrid cars, CFLs

摘要

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is proposing a total ban on exports of terbium, dysprosium, yttrium, thulium, and lutetium and a restriction on neodymium, europium, cerium, and lanthanum to a total of 35,000 tons a year, which is far below global needs. Many of these metals are vital to energy-efficient technology. For example, neodymium finds use in rare-earth magnets for high-efficiency motors, and new front-loading clothes washers use rare-earth magnets in their motors.