Material Empire

Japanese companies are still very disciplined. When a technology is still in the laboratory, there are specialized personnel to analyze the market prospects of this technology, make predictions on future sales, prices, and so on. Identify issues such as raw material procurement and production capacity building.

The data presented by Hirano Masao are calculated by the research department, and this result can be used as the basis for Miyagawa's decision-making.

"What are our current plutonium oxide and plutonium oxide stocks?" Miyagawa turned to Nagatomo Yoshiaki again.

"The thorium oxide is less than 60 tons, and the thallium oxide is only 5 tons." Changyou Yongxuan said grayly.

"There is such a big gap?" Miyagawa was lost in thought.

Regarding rare earths, there has always been a view that rare earths are not "lean" and are not a strategic resource that requires special protection. The reason for this view is that the annual global demand for rare earths is only a few hundred thousand tons, and China's proven reserves of rare earths are as high as 30 million tons. Even if the world's rare earths are all supplied by China, it is sufficient for 200 years the above. If you consider the rare earth resources of other countries, then the rare earth will be enough for another 1,000 years.

One of the biggest flaws in this theory is that it does not take into account that with the development of human science and technology, the demand for rare earths will gradually rise. Once a certain use of rare earth is discovered, it is entirely possible that the demand will increase 10 times and 100 times. Can you still say that these rare earths will last 1,000 years?

The most typical example. Is the demand for neodymium oxide. Before neodymium iron boron was invented, the demand for neodymium oxide was very small, only a hundred or two tons a year. But after the appearance of NdFeB. The annual demand for neodymium oxide has suddenly increased to more than 2,000 tons, which is more than 10 times the increase in the past.

The same is true for dysprosium and dysprosium, which originally existed only as additives and had little demand. In the neodymium iron boron permanent magnet material, in order to enhance its coercive force, about 2% of thorium is generally added. This is the main use of thorium oxide in the production of Chunshan Company. Because the amount is small. Therefore, Chunshan's storage capacity is also small, as long as it can guarantee the production needs of two or three years.

but. When hafnium alloys appeared, things were very different. Rhenium and Rhenium have changed from additives to main raw materials, and the demand has naturally increased by 10 times. Originally only 60 tons of thorium oxide and 5 tons of thorium oxide were stored, and now it looks like it. The gap is really too big.

"Chang Youjun, an expert you consulted, do you think the highest price of plutonium oxide can increase in the next three years?" Miyagawa is also asking Changyou Yongzheng to make a major decision related to the fate of the company. He is It must be fully understood.

Changyou Yongxuan said bitterly: "They believe that, in the current situation, the price of thorium oxide may rise to 500 US dollars per kilogram, which is 500,000 US dollars per ton. The most important thing is that they do not know We have mastered ferroalloy technology. If you know ... "

Nagatomo Yongjiu did not continue, because the words behind it were really appalling. Experts' estimation of price trends is based on the current supply and demand situation of thorium oxide. Once the ferroalloy enters the practical field, the demand for hafnium oxide will increase sharply, and the supply and demand situation will become worse. By that time, the forecast of $ 500 per kilogram will become an optimistic and silly point of view.

If you think about the rise in international oil prices, you can understand if a mineral resource rises in price. How terrible it would be.

"I will submit an application to the board of directors for a loan of $ 100 million. We have established a reserve of 600 tons of thorium oxide and 100 tons of thorium oxide. This will be a strategic reserve for our company." Miyagawa is using a heavy tone. , Said to everyone.

The matter of stockpiling raw materials sounds easy and wise, but it's actually foolish. Raw materials with a value of 100 million US dollars cannot produce any value in the warehouse. On the contrary, high interest and storage costs must be paid, which will become a heavy burden for enterprises. However, it is not possible to not establish reserves. Once there is a buzz in the market, enterprises can only be slaughtered by people.

Whether or not to establish a reserve, and how large a reserve is, is a very complicated issue, involving the prediction of the market and technology, and even the opponent's discipline. However, from what can be seen at present, the prices of hafnium oxide and hafnium oxide will continue to rise anyway. Now a kilogram of $ 50 things will rise to $ 500 or even $ 5,000 a few years later. The reserves that have been built up with huge sums of money can now play a role.

The management of the whole house knows how important this matter is for Chunshan Company. The feeling of life in the hands of others is really unpleasant. Hirano even had the idea that if he hadn't got a sample of ferroalloy from Qin Hai at that time, maybe all this would not have happened. However, he also knows that this is only an illusion. The invention of the ferroalloy permanent magnet is a huge threat to Chunshan Company in any case. The acceptance and rejection of Chunshan Company are equally embarrassing.

"Are we going to start the work of expanding the reserves now?" Chang You Yongzheng asked.

"Start now." Miyagawa said positively. Of course, he must pass the approval of the board of directors for such a big decision, but purchasing 600 tons of plutonium oxide is not a one-time deal. At present, the supply of thorium oxide in the entire international market is only about 200 tons. To build such a large reserve, in addition to sweeping out the thorium oxide on the market, it must also pressure the Chinese government to increase China's oxidation. Production and sales of tadpoles. As for other rare earth suppliers in the world, let them wash and sleep. They do not have such production capacity.

"I see." Yoshitomo Nagato said, "Mr. Miyagawa, I need to go to China in person. If necessary, I may meet with officials of the Chinese Planning Commission or Mr. Qin Hai. I need the company to give me Enough authorization. In addition, to make the Chinese willing to increase the supply of plutonium oxide, I am afraid the Japanese government needs to communicate with the Chinese government through official channels. "

"Things for the government. I will arrange for people to do it." Masao Miyakawa said, "You Hei Yejun will study the problem of samarium ferroalloy to determine an accurate purchase quantity. And the highest price we can accept, Then report back to me. "

"Hi!" Nagatomo Nagata and Masano Nobu stood up at the same time and responded in unison.

While the internal turmoil of Chunshan Company was overwhelming, Qin Hai was sitting in the office of the State Planning Commission Wang Hongsheng, talking and laughing, and introducing the results of his trip to the south.

"Exports of heavy rare earths have stopped completely and will not be restored within two months. The prices of heavy rare earth oxides on the international market have increased by an average of 3 times. The highest has increased by 10 times. This time, cabbage can finally be sold. The price of meat is high. "Qin Hai proudly told Wang Hongsheng.

"Is there any interruption in the production of rare earth?" Wang Hongsheng asked. Qin Hai's treatment of rare earths was known in advance, and he has been paying close attention to it for a while. He is also quite satisfied with Qin Hai's approach in the southern provinces.

Qin Haidao: "No. After the rectification, the production order is better. In addition, we have invested a large number of large-scale mining equipment, and the production capacity has increased by more than three times. However, all the rare earth products are currently stored in warehouses, and we have to wait until the price is appropriate. I will throw it out later. "

Wang Hongsheng said: "This kind of trick is the only thing you dare to do, you dare to do it. I heard that your Daqin Group bought these rare earth products, and spent a lot of money?"

Qin Hai shook his head, and Niu blandly said, "It didn't cost much. That's how it looks like tens of millions. You can't let those small miners who have invested money to invest in the factory to see no gain?"

"You don't worry that the price of rare earth will not rise in the future, and you have all these reserves in your hands?" Wang Hongsheng deliberately questioned.

Qin Haidao: "First of all, it is impossible to increase the price of rare earths. Now no one can figure out my production capacity, so the price increase expectations are generally generated. The psychology of buying or not buying also exists for international buyers. Secondly, even if foreign buyers have the ability to carry it or not, I am not afraid that our Daqin Group has the ability to digest these stocks. "

Chunshan is entangled with the question of how much rare earth to store. In Qin Hai, there is no pressure at all. This is the voice of the resource owner.

If not worrying about the pressure on international trade. Qin Hai really does not need to make money by selling rare earths. A group of scientists at the Anhe Institute of Materials Science and Technology is now working on the research of rare earth deep processing technology, and he can digest even more rare earths by himself. However, in the same way that you cannot eat sole food during mining, you cannot eat sole food in the use of mineral products. He must leave some rare earth raw materials for foreign high-tech companies, otherwise it will attract criticism.

"When are you going to wait for shipment?" Wang Hongsheng said. "You are stuck in the international market. Some foreign companies have protested. This is not in compliance with international trade rules."

Qin Hai laughed: "Is our country not yet a member of the GATT? How can international trade rules help me? What's more, I didn't say that I won't ship the goods. I just said that adjustments will be made now and the mine will be temporarily closed. The Tin Pass rare earth mine has been planned to be closed forever, isn't anyone right? "

Wang Hongsheng said, "That's what it says, but after all, our country is involved in international trade. Some things can't be done too much. Don't hide that, the Ministry of Foreign Trade has come to us several times these days, asking us to give you Put a little pressure and put some rare earth products out. They are directly facing overseas merchants, and the pressure is not small. "

Qin Haidao: "Director Wang, I came to you just for this matter. I can give you the bottom. I plan to restore the supply to the international market in two months, but the supply is only half of the original. My actual The production capacity is three times the original, that is to say ~ www.novelmtl.com ~ I have the equivalent of twice and a half of the supply in the past, which can be used to bargain with foreign businessmen. Is there any plan to use this here? arms?"

"Use this weapon?" Wang Hongsheng's eyes brightened, and he understood what Qin Hai was pointing.

It is said that no one can pick out the fault on the basis of rectifying the mines and reducing the supply in the international market. It can even convince others. However, after all, the international market needs rare earths, so various manufacturers will come to the Chinese government for help, and may even communicate at the government level. At this time, when the country can take the opportunity to blackmail, if you agree to my conditions, I can give you some rare earths. If you do not agree to my conditions, then I will give you a few official words to make you fail. Everything depends on you. Can you please me?

As for extorting something abroad, Wang Hongsheng can think of too many things: preferential terms of trade, export of certain Chinese goods, lifting of high-tech product restrictions ... These are all things the Chinese government has done its best to fight abroad. Rather than believing in courtesy and enthusiastically begging others, it is better to use rare earth as a condition to force the other party to take advantage of the initiative. There are too many differences between active and passive.

To do this, a key point is that there must be an institution that can completely control the production and sales of rare earths. Qin Hai has now achieved this. (To be continued)