I controlli delle esportazioni della Cina stanno frenando le spedizioni minerali critiche nel mondo

> […] Fresh customs data released on Sunday reinforced a pattern building since controls were imposed: exports are down and some buyers, especially in Europe, are cut out of the supply chain.

> Exports of antimony and germanium products in the first quarter were down 57% and 39%, respectively, compared to a year earlier.

> March exports of gallium hit their lowest level since October 2023. Quarterly shipments were up on last year, but the current trend is still well below 2022, the last full year before curbs.

> […] After a five-month hiatus, small shipments of antimony were sent to Belgium and Germany in March, but exports were well below historic levels and former large buyers like the Netherlands haven’t received shipments since September.

> […] Exporters say they expect to wait months for licenses and even longer if selling to the United States.

The Netherlands was hit due to export restriction on their high NA-EUV machines to China, I assume, but I’m not sure about Germany, Belgium or other European countries.

Those mineral are available elsewhere. Just more money.

Mineral processing is extremely polluting and I read often that China holds this level of metals production and everyone buys from it because of its lack of environmental standards …