Most Japan manufacturers view rare earth procurement as challenge: survey

TOKYO - Around 80 percent of Japanese manufacturers view the procurement of rare earths as a pressing challenge for their managements or a critical operational risk, according to a recent survey, as China tightens its export controls on the minerals essential for high-tech products.

The survey by Resilire Inc., a provider of information on supply chain risk management, also showed 45 percent of company executives in the manufacturing sector believe their companies' high reliance on rare earths from China is an issue.