[Ferro-Alloys.com] As the territorial dispute with China over the Senkaku Islands seems to not be improving anytime soon, Japan is looking to other countries, particularly India, for importation of rare earth minerals.

A surge in import prices has forced South Korea to import less of the precious rare earths from China in August.

[Ferro-Alloys.com] China has for the first time published a list of companies that are authorized to explore and produce rare earths as it attempts to crack down on smuggling of these metallic elements.

As China tightens the noose on rare earth exports, India is to soon put into operation its 10,000 tonnes Monazite processing plant in the eastern state of Odisha.

The Lynas Corporation rare earths processing plant in Malaysia expects to start processing ore in October, according to an email from the Sydney headquarters of the Australia-based company.

[Ferro-Alloys.com] The Ministry of Commerce yesterday announced the second batch of rare earth export quota of 9,770 metric tons for this year.

[Ferro-Alloys.com] South Korea's rare earth imports from China jumped 22.4% last month due to a fall in import prices, customs data showed Thursday.

[Ferro-Alloys.com]China may abandon its controversial export quota on rare earths and instead hike its resource tax on the highly sought after minerals, local media reported last Friday.