Despite geopolitical tensions, China’s rare earth producers have profitable first half

China’s rare earth producers have reported or anticipated hefty first-half profits, with Beijing’s use of the strategically critical minerals as leverage in tense relations with Japan and the United States not appearing to impede normal trade.

The geopolitical factor – US President Donald Trump announced more than US$2 billion of domestic mining investment on Friday, widely viewed as diversifying the country’s rare earth supply chain away from China’s near-monopoly – has helped drive up product...