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The industry around the world is running out of aluminium. Aluminium mills are closing all around the globe, except for China. Why? No magnesium. And China don

The industry around the world is running out of aluminium. Aluminium mills are closing all around the globe, except for China. Why? No magnesium. And China don't let out its magnesium.

c_o_n_v_e_x 5y ago
There's an ongoing theme with certain non-rare industrial materials like Aluminum/Aluminium, magnesium, and not-so-rare "rare" earths elements. The materials are abundant in nature, however it's the ability or willingness to process those materials in country which is rare. For example, rare earths are dirty to process so developed countries have outsourced their pollution to China.
raldi 5y ago
What’s the connection between the two metals?
- baybal2 5y ago
  Almost all structural aluminium in use is duraluminium. You need magnesium for duraluminium alloys.
- slavboj 5y ago
  "Aluminum" is sold and used as an alloy, not as pure elemental Al. 6061 grade aluminum for instance has ~1% magnesium.
nradov 5y ago
China produces most of the world magnesium supply. Production is down due to electrical power shortages and they have restricted exports in order to ensure supply for domestic needs. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-27/magnesium-shortage-in-europe-and-us-china-slows-down-supply/100570048 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-27/magnesium-shortage-in...
bell-cot 5y ago
Hmm. Magnesium is anything but scarce - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium#Occurrence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium#Occurrence OTOH, it's not used in huge quantities (vs. oil, coal, iron, etc.) - so it seem plausible that China could kinda corner the market. At a reasonable cost (for them). Especially if they're the ~only country bothering to run a strategy...
- baybal2 5y ago
  Energy is scarce though. Only Chinese smelters have dolomite based production, which is much cheaper than bruteforce electrolysis.
  - bell-cot 5y ago
    I sense something else going on here. The mineral dolomite is hardly scarce, and the Pigeon Process (to produce magnesium from dolomite) was invented in Canada in the 1940's.
    - baybal2 5y ago
      High quality magnesite, magnesia, and dolomites are scarce, but central China is one big slab of them.
- s1artibartfast 5y ago
  They already have the market cornered. They produce over 90% of the global supply.

The industry around the world is running out of aluminium. Aluminium mills are closing all around the globe, except for China. Why? No magnesium. And China don't let out its magnesium.

c_o_n_v_e_x 5y ago

There's an ongoing theme with certain non-rare industrial materials like Aluminum/Aluminium, magnesium, and not-so-rare "rare" earths elements. The materials are abundant in nature, however it's the ability or willingness to process those materials in country which is rare. For example, rare earths are dirty to process so developed countries have outsourced their pollution to China.

raldi 5y ago

What’s the connection between the two metals?

baybal2 5y ago
Almost all structural aluminium in use is duraluminium. You need magnesium for duraluminium alloys.
slavboj 5y ago
"Aluminum" is sold and used as an alloy, not as pure elemental Al. 6061 grade aluminum for instance has ~1% magnesium.

nradov 5y ago

China produces most of the world magnesium supply. Production is down due to electrical power shortages and they have restricted exports in order to ensure supply for domestic needs. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-27/magnesium-shortage-in-europe-and-us-china-slows-down-supply/100570048 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-27/magnesium-shortage-in...

bell-cot 5y ago

Hmm. Magnesium is anything but scarce - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium#Occurrence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium#Occurrence OTOH, it's not used in huge quantities (vs. oil, coal, iron, etc.) - so it seem plausible that China could kinda corner the market. At a reasonable cost (for them). Especially if they're the ~only country bothering to run a strategy...

baybal2 5y ago
Energy is scarce though. Only Chinese smelters have dolomite based production, which is much cheaper than bruteforce electrolysis.
- bell-cot 5y ago
  I sense something else going on here. The mineral dolomite is hardly scarce, and the Pigeon Process (to produce magnesium from dolomite) was invented in Canada in the 1940's.
  - baybal2 5y ago
    High quality magnesite, magnesia, and dolomites are scarce, but central China is one big slab of them.
s1artibartfast 5y ago
They already have the market cornered. They produce over 90% of the global supply.