Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called ‘rare earth metals’. Why? 1. China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export 2. Other than China, Australia, Canada and Chile, these elements are not found in any country 3. Rare earth metals are essential for the manufacture of various kinds of electronic items and there is a growing demand for these elements

QUESTION

Medium

Economy

Prelims 2012

Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called ‘rare earth metals’. Why?

China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export
Other than China, Australia, Canada and Chile, these elements are not found in any country
Rare earth metals are essential for the manufacture of various kinds of electronic items and there is a growing demand for these elements

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

China, which is the largest producer of rare earth metals, has indeed imposed restrictions on their export. This has raised concerns about the global supply chain for these essential elements, particularly in industries such as electronics, renewable energy, and defence.

Rare earth metals are found in various countries besides China. While China has a dominant position in rare earth production, other countries like Australia, Canada, the United States, and several others also have significant reserves and production capacities. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Rare earth metals are indeed essential for the manufacture of various electronic items, renewable energy technologies, and defence applications. The growing demand for these elements, coupled with supply chain disruptions and geopolitical factors, has contributed to concerns about their availability in the global market.

So only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

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