[ExI] not that rare earth (part 2 of at least 2)

[spike at rainier66.com]

From: spike at rainier66.com <spike at rainier66.com> 
Subject: not that rare earth

 

 

 

>.A few days ago, I speculated that the invisible hand of capitalism would
find alternative sources for rare earth elements.  Well the invisible hand
did so.  There are other nations besides China which are advanced in
chemical engineering, which have rare earth ore and which likewise have
little concern over pollution or can deal with it effectively.There is a fun
follow up to this post, to follow when I return.   spike

 

 

 

 

 

Upon hearing there was a "rare" earth "crisis" and of course never wanting
to risk letting a crisis go to waste, I began looking at investment and
profit opportunities related to "rare" earth elements.  I looked at the
critical applications of those materials for which China dominates (and
controls) the world market, along with the applications: electronics,
electric motors, generators and electric power storage.

 

Well OK then, when evaluating the profit possibilities, one must take into
account which of those require the most material.  The key insight here is
that a shortage of REEs is nearly irrelevant to electronics.  Reasoning:
they don't need much, and it goes into a very high-value product.  If it
costs a few bucks more for an advanced processor, so be it.  But if it is in
a magnet going into an electric car, the REE spot price is far more
important: it costs a lot more, and car parts are far more price critical.

 

OK then.  The electronics industry will find a way (do let me assure you.)
That allows speculators to focus on cars, generators and (maybe) electric
storage, which uses a lotta lotta the stuff.  Hipsters, do check my
reasoning on this please.  I am open to suggestion.

 

>From there I go to a personal anecdote which is influencing my investment
decision, but dang I must end there for another accursed errand which cannot
wait.  More later,

 

spike

 

 

  

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