Nickel

China's exports of rare earth ores, metals and compounds, fell 11% in May compared to April and 8.8% to 23,742 metric tons in the first five months of the year compared to last year. At the same time the value of exports surged 242% to $1.6 billion, customs data supplied by Hong Kong-based Economic Information & Agency showed Tuesday. China in recent months closed or consolidated more than 35 rare earth mines and cut export quotas sparking concerns in the US and other industrial nations about access to supplies and causing a frenzy of exploration and development activity.

Market Oracle reported on recent gains in shares of Molycorp (NYSE:MCP). The market news is quoted as saying: The price drivers today are plentiful: Financial Times reports that rare earth materials are being stockpiled in China, Piper Jaffray upgraded Molycorp to a buy, and a host of analysts piled on with positive assessments of the rare earth industry in general.

Prices of the certain rare earths used in energy saving lightbulbs, lasers, nuclear reactors, magnets and plasma televisions more than doubled in the past two weeks as China, responsible for upwards of 95% of world supply, further tightens control of mining, trading and exports, research house Industrial Minerals said over the weekend. China in recent months closed or consolidated more than 35 rare earth mines and cut export quotas sparking concerns in the US and other industrial nations about access to supplies and causing an exploration and mine development frenzy with over 250 projects on the go worldwide.

Chinese industrial executives say the world's supply of rare earth minerals will outstrip demand within five years, ending reliance on China's exports. Wang Hongquain, general manager of China Nonferrous Metal Industry's Foreign Engineering and Construction Company (NFC), toldChina Daily more nations with large rare-earth deposits will resume exploration, which will lead to a global reallocation of the minerals.

Rare Element Resources stock jumped 9% in after hours trade in New York after a new estimate for the amount of rare earth materials at its Bear Lodge project in Wyoming showed a 20% jump. The gains were on top of a 7% jump during regular hours for the volatile stock which is still trading down almost 40% from record highs hit in January. The company also sees significant potential for further expansion of all deposits.

South Africa's MDM Engineering Group has been awarded the increased throughput design update and cost revalidation of the Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) for Africo Resources' Kalukundi copper/cobalt project, located in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which borders Zambia to the south. In May 2006 MDM completed a BFS, based on a throughput of 800,000 tonne/year plant, on the Kalukundi project.

Commodities trader Glencore (GLEN.L: Quote) is not considering a bid for embattled miner ENRC, its chief executive said, dismissing reports of a takeover after it disappointed the market with its maiden frst-quarter results. Shares in the world's largest diversified commodity trader dropped 2 percent as weaker-than-expected results from its metals and mining trading unit held back its operating profit.

At a time of scarcity in everything from crude oil to copper to corn, nickel is heading for the biggest glut in four years, driving prices lower into 2012. Next year's surplus will rise to 60,000 metric tons from 12,000 tons in 2011, making nickel the most oversupplied metal relative to output or use, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the most-accurate forecaster tracked by Bloomberg over two years.

Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco) has taken a 45 percent majority stake in a rare earth joint venture in Jiangsu province, boosting […]