China to limit rare earth output to no more than 140,000 tonnes a year by 2020

[BEIJING] China aims to limit rare earth metals output to no more than 140,000 tonnes per year by 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said on Tuesday.

China also plans to cut separation capacities for rare earth elements to 200,000 tonnes in 2020, compared with 300,000 tonnes in 2015, the MIIT said in a five-year development plan for the industry posted on its website.

China will also crack down on illegal activities in the rare earth mining sector, the MIIT said in the statement on the plan.

REUTERS