China's growth

 

China begins restricting exports of key minerals today  

 

Starting today, China will begin limiting its exports of gallium and germanium, two rare minerals that are crucial for the manufacture of semiconductors, TT writes. 

 

China announced in early July that it would begin reducing exports of the minerals, prompting the US to restrict Chinese companies' access to cloud services that use AI, among other things. 

 

China accounts for 97 percent of global exports of gallium and 64 percent of germanium.

 

Facts: Germanium and gallium  

 

Germanium: Used in, among other things, semiconductors, fiber optics and solar cells. Only 12 percent of the world's germanium is mined outside of China or Russia, with China accounting for the majority. In 2020, the total global production of germanium was 130 tons. 

 

Gallium: Gallium is mined only as a by-product and is therefore considered a critical commodity by the EU, although the substance itself is not uncommon. Needed for, among other things, semiconductors in industry. A total of 300 tons are produced per year, and China accounts for 97 percent of that.  

 

Source: The report "The Nordic Supply Potential of Critical Metals and Minerals for a Green Energy Transition" from Nordic Innovation, as well as Sweden's Geological Survey / TT.  

 

Archive image. HUANG SHI PENG / AP  

 

China's reduced exports of minerals could hit the EU  

 

China's restriction of mineral exports could be a severe blow to Europe. That's what Erika Ingvald, head of unit at Sweden's Geological Survey, tells TV4. 

 

 According to Ingvald, the EU is "extremely dependent" on the 32 minerals covered by the export restriction. Gallium and germanium are given as examples – two critical minerals used in car batteries.

 

- If Europe's car industry wants to switch to electric cars and take the same market share as for traditional powertrains, it's about 14 million jobs, she says to the channel.  

 

 

Drones from Chinese DJI Unsplash/Dexter Fernandes 

 

China restricts its drone exports  

 

China has decided to impose export restrictions on certain types of drones and drone-related technology. Reuters reports. The reason is stated to be that China wants to protect national security interests. 

 

The decision also affects drones intended for the consumer market, but exactly in what way is not completely clear.  

 

DJI, the world's leading Chinese manufacturer of drones for the consumer market, says the company will comply with the restrictions. However, how the restrictions affect them remains to be seen.