Australian heavy rare earths producer, Northern Minerals Limited (ASX: NTU) (the Company) is pleased to announce at a further 114 tonnes of heavy rare earth carbonate was exported and sold this week, with the shipment departing Darwin today. The sale of heavy rare earth carbonate to thyssenkrupp Materials Trading GmbH (thyssenkrupp) follows an earlier shipment of 22 tonnes in January 2020.
The continuance and increase in sales by thyssenkrupp reflect positively on the quality of the Browns Range Project. Importantly, the Company has not observed any significant issues relating to the coronavirus with regards to sales at this stage.
Northern Minerals’ Managing Director and CEO, George Bauk, commented, “We continue to see improvements in production at Browns Range as the processing circuit and flowsheet is tested and refined.
“With parts of China in lockdown for the coronavirus, there has been a high degree of misinformation as to Chinese production capacity.
“Our information is that rare earth separation facilities in southern provinces of China that process heavy rare earths have restarted production after extended annual Chinese New Year celebration closures and there has been no discernible change in the demand for our product.
“Of course, both the Company and thyssenkrupp will continue to closely monitor the situation over the coming weeks and months.”
