Information provided by Metal Pages, a news site that focuses on non-ferrous metals, ferro alloysand rare earths, indicated that rare earth elements exports have dropped 65% in 2011 and that China has only exported 11, 000 metric tons of rare earths through the first three quarters of the year.
The other significant industrial user is iron and steel production, though iron ore and various other metals used to make alloys are also significant costs.