Part III: Responses by International End-Users
Increasing dependence on Chinese minor metal production has forced end-users to consider how best to deal with greater price volatility and a heightened risk of supply disruptions. In part one of our series on the effect of growing dependence on Chinese production and supply of minor metals, we showed that China’s share of global minor metal production rose 34 percent between 2000 and 2009. In part two, we outlined the key factors in this rise, including natural resource reserves, domestic manufacturing growth, as well as industrial development, environmental and export policies, and concluded that the major impacts on end-users are an increase in price volatility and a greater risk of supply disruptions. In this, the final part, we will discuss the options available to end-users in order to deal with price volatility and risks of supply disruptions.
Continue reading "China's Growing Role in the Production and Supply of Minor Metals: Part III" »