I just read articles using their company writers who often refer to Rare Industrial or Technical Metals as Rare earth metals. I would like to take some time and get rid of the issue. I deal with RIMs and REEs on a regular basis. Both might both be regarded as metals that is where the similarities end.

First we've REEs or Rare earth metals. These metals consist of 17 metals, the Lanthanides plus Scandium and Yttrium around the periodic table of the elements. These metals have been in a powder form, causing them to be difficult to assay and store. One important aspect which is often mentioned is because they are not rare. This is very true, but finding REEs in large deposits is tough.

In the mining sector REE mines are standalone mines, that target the mining and refining of REEs exclusively. Currently around 97% of REEs are mined and refined in China. Historically REE mining and refining has become a dirty business, which has affected the environment round the mines. The sun and rain Thorium and Uranium tend to be found along with the REEs inside the deposits causing the slurry to become slightly radioactive when processed. The use of highly toxic acids throughout the processing also can have serious environmental impact. Most companies want to open REE mines but they are meeting headwinds, as nations and people do not want these mines in their backyard.

Over the last few years China has dramatically cut its export of REEs. This as well as the increased need for REEs have caused a meteoric increase in the value of these metals. Usually the one area that very few people talk about is the role of the media coupled with speculators in raising the value of REE ETF´s specifically. During the last couple years REEs were the rock stars from the metals. The news has calmed lately, but the supply and demand factors that caused the metals to soar continue to be in position. Recently China closed its BaoTao mine until REE prices stabilize.

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Rare Industrial Metals, RIM´s or Technical metals are another group entirely. The RIM´s are made up of metals used in over 80% of all products we experience a daily basis. Without these metals you will not hold the world of the Modern day with our cellphones, hybrid cars, lcd TV´s, highly efficient solar energy and computers. Some of these metals include Indium, Tellurium, Gallium, Tantalum and Hafnium. These metals really are rare when compared to Rare Earth Metals which in turn causes significant amounts of confusion. These metals are in a metallic form, stable and straightforward to hold and ship.

RIM´s are mined being a by-product of base or common metal mining. For example Tellurium is a by-product of Copper mining and Gallium is really a by-product of Aluminum and Zinc mining. The mining with the RIM´s currently are generally susceptible to the markets for the base or common metal mining. If the Copper mines around the globe opt to cut production due to Copper losing value, this may have a huge influence on how much Tellurium that may be refined. Until recently, due to the previous small size the RIM market, a lot of companies do not feel the need to invest money into better technology to mine and refine these metals. The RIM´s will have to be valued much higher to gain the interest from the mining industry.

When China cut exports of REEs additionally they cut exports of RIM´s. This put pressure around the price of these metals. RIM´s have increased in value, but nowhere near the meteoric rise with the REEs. The majority of the metals increased in value around 47% this year and 25% up to now this year. There's still plenty of room for rise in the need for these metals (not according to speculation like REEs) as demand is exceeding supply now as well as in the future.

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For instance, when REEs and the stock market recently fell sharply the RIM´s dropped slightly in value but have held their own very well. On a further note, based on Knut Andersen of Swiss Metal Assets, ¨Even though prices with the Rare Industrial Metals still increase in value, consumers will ultimately only view a tiny increase in the buying price of the end products, as there is so very little of each metal accustomed to produce the products. Also if individuals can´t afford a smartphone they will still buy more affordable phones that still utilize the same Rare Industrial Metals¨.

The necessity for RIM´s has risen sharply through the years and will continue to grow at astronomical rates. China, India, South America and the whole of Africa with billions of latest people are now buying and ultizing computers and cellphones to mention just a couple products.

The near future is bright for the technologies and also the Rare Industrial Metals which make them work and then for anyone that participates in stockpiling these metals now to fulfill future increased demand.