Neodymium

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I admit that I didn't see this coming, as I thought the Chinese were smarter than raise the price of anything so high as to guarantee the eventual loss of their monopoly. They may call neo a rare earth, but it isn't rare at all, and the only reason it has not been extensively mined, refined and made into magnets in the US was that it was cheaper to buy it from China. Investment bankers are already licking their chops over American mined neo as a source for profit, so this situation may be painful but it will also be temporary.

[bzb]

I just saw that in the wikipedia post. Seems someone already updated with the Chinese issue, as well! Strangely, the source is from January. Wonder why Eminence is just now responding?

If we already mine the ore that has it, is it just a matter of them upping production/extraction of it, or do companies have to go through the political nightmare of opening new mines?

[WB]

Investment bankers are already licking their chops over American mined neo as a source for profit, so this situation may be painful but it will also be temporary.

For some reason bankers licking their chops for profits doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies.

Starting and operating a profitable mine takes years of planning, expertise, huge capital, expensive labour, and high risk. Probably moreso in America than China. By the time the mine is operational the commodities could be in a full blown bubble blow off phase (contributed partly by bankers using OP moneys in search of profits) crashes and the whole cycle starts over somewhere else causing most to forget what the original commotion was all about. (the phrase "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men" comes to mind)

Sorry to be so cheery today. Hey, at least natural gas is cheap. Time to lock in long term heating contracts if you're in a position to.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

do companies have to go through the political nightmare of opening new mines?

The largest user of neo is the automobile industry. The largest shareholder in General Motors is the US government. That tends to cut through red tape in quick fashion, especially as it means J-O-B-S.
But even more significant, neo magnets are an essential element in reducing dependence on foreign oil, so developing a domestic supply of neo goes right up to the top of the list of national priorities. And it doesn't hurt that there's a buck to be made too.

[Frankie G]

do companies have to go through the political nightmare of opening new mines?

The largest user of neo is the automobile industry. The largest shareholder in General Motors is the US government. That tends to cut through red tape in quick fashion, especially as it means J-O-B-S.
But even more significant, neo magnets are an essential element in reducing dependence on foreign oil, so developing a domestic supply of neo goes right up to the top of the list of national priorities. And it doesn't hurt that there's a buck to be made too.

That makes the most sense to me Bill. And with gas prices rising and estimated to hit an all time high this coming summer I think our dependancy on the alternative fueled cars, especially electric ones with neo motors, is going to grow huge! Makes you wonder who is really behind China's move.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Makes you wonder who is really behind China's move.

They're considering their own industrial needs, and they'd rather sell finished goods containing magnets than the magnets themselves. But I don't see Chinese hybrid cars sweeping the world market, so it seems an odd decision to jeopardize long term revenues with this move.

[Harley]

Makes you wonder who is really behind China's move.

They're considering their own industrial needs, .....so it seems an odd decision to jeopardize long term revenues with this move.

Maybe they are keeping them for their stealth bomber copies.

[Bruce Weldy]

The magnets keep their rice stuck together....otherwise, they'd have to use forks.

[doncolga]

Good grief!...just saw the price increases. I don't mind the weight one bit though for the Lab 12...and that is a very sharp looking driver. Xmax and power look higher too. Now if I were just able to pay for another two builds...

[dcodym]

Still some pretty good speaker deals on Amazon as has been mentioned. Just ordered two Deltalite II 2512 drivers for about $90 a piece. New, not used.

If you go to Amazon, don't take the first price it throws up there. If you click on the, for example '9 new' link underneath where it says how many left in stock, you can look at the listings from the dealers and see a variety of prices.

Good hunting!

[Dave Non-Zero]

Ive got a couple of blown 3015LF from years ago, think i could make a profit on them soon if i keep em?

[Frankie G]

Makes you wonder who is really behind China's move.

They're considering their own industrial needs, and they'd rather sell finished goods containing magnets than the magnets themselves. But I don't see Chinese hybrid cars sweeping the world market, so it seems an odd decision to jeopardize long term revenues with this move.

No doubt! And it does seem like a far out there decision. I bet if we knew a little more behind the scenes and knew who else they exported neo and neo products to it would make a little more sense. In the mean time, gotta get my hands on a couple 3012lf's quickly for some new titan 39's!!!

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

In the mean time, gotta get my hands on a couple 3012lf's quickly for some new titan 39's!!!

The time to do it is now, before everyone wakes up and smells the coffee.

[Frankie G]

In the mean time, gotta get my hands on a couple 3012lf's quickly for some new titan 39's!!!

The time to do it is now, before everyone wakes up and smells the coffee.

I know it!! Just dont' have the cash at the moment. The only way I could do it quickly is to sell my current ones and I have no idea what to even try and charge for them. They are in GREAT shape and have been limited in their pass band since I built them.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

In the mean time, gotta get my hands on a couple 3012lf's quickly for some new titan 39's!!!

The time to do it is now, before everyone wakes up and smells the coffee.

I know it!! Just dont' have the cash at the moment. The only way I could do it quickly is to sell my current ones and I have no idea what to even try and charge for them. They are in GREAT shape and have been limited in their pass band since I built them.

Smart guys with the available credit would be buying every neo driver they could now to turn them for a profit a month down the road when everyone else has finally caught on.