Molycorp (NYSE: MCP) must step up rare earth materials production for EVs

This places Molycorp (NYSE: MCP) in a unique position to directly supply the U.S. auto industry’s budding EV industry.

As part of its forecasts for rare earth metals, Pike Research as far back as May noted demand for rare earths in the clean-tech industry will reach 12,920 tons per year by 2017, up from approximately 9,000 tons annually in 2011, which could place an increased strain on global supply for these emerging applications.

Pike Research’s report, “Rare Earth Metals in the Cleantech Industry”, provides a comprehensive analysis of supply and demand dynamics, assessment of risk, and pricing scenarios for the utilization of rare earth metals in clean-tech applications. The study includes profiles of key industry players and their strategies to address the need for rare earth metals in the clean-tech industry. Detailed demand forecasts, segmented by rare earth metal, application, and world region, are provided through 2017. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.

For the record, rare earth materials are utilized in wind turbines, electric vehicles, fuel cells, and energy efficient lighting markets.

One can now see why the Copper Development Association made its presence known at The Business of Plugging In 2011 in Dearborn, Michigan which ended yesterday. Fact is, copper rotors used in IM motors can replace permanent magnet (PM) motors that depend on rare earth magnets. Tesla is the first to use such copper-laden motors with great success, and the supply of copper is ubiquitous. Read: Copper Development Association scores well at The Business of Plugging In 2011

On the other hand, Molycorp is an American-based supplier of rare earth materials who sees the need and intends to take the opportunity to step up production.

“China is clearly warning that they will consume more of their own rare earths and export less,” said Mark Smith, CEO of rare earth mining concern Molycorp, “and that they see tight supplies of rare earths as representing an ‘irreversible’ trend.”

That means companies like Molycorp, which owns the Mountain Pass rare earth mine in California, must ramp up supply to meet demand from non-Chinese manufacturers, and that prices for elements like cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium will remain high.

Molycorp Stock Chart

The weekly chart provides a higher-level look at the past year’s performance for Molycorp stock. Its IPO started in July of 2010 at 13.25. It increased volatility and rose as high as 79.16 in May, 2011. Since then, the stock has been in downward trend like the rest of the general market.

Molycorp stock is presently trading near 38, which is above its 150 week moving average of 25.62; and it 50 week moving average of 50.53.

On the daily chart (shown), Molycorp stock is trading below it 50-day moving average which is 46.78; and that is bearish. Also, the 50-day moving average is below the 150-day moving average which is also a bearish sign.

So much for the technicals, except for the recent breakout on the daily chart above the 4-day high-low channel on October 6th. That is the first breakout on the daily chart dating back to late August, early September, which failed to hold.

Question is, will the trading community view this latest statements before congress along with the Pike Research forecasts as sufficient to establish a near-term bottom for Molycorp stock? The latest swing low stands at 29.19 and is, therefore, a level of price support at this time.

Full Disclosure: At time of publication, Sherosky, creator of the auto sector charts for TN, is neither long or short with the mentioned stocks or futures, though positions can change at any time. None of the information in this article constitutes a recommendation, but an assessment or opinion.

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About the Reporter: After 39 years in the auto industry as a design engineer, Frank Sherosky now trades stocks, futures and writes articles, books and ebooks like, "Perfecting Corporate Character," "Awaken Your Speculator Mind", and "Millennial World Order" via authorfrank.com. He may be contacted here by email: [email protected] and followed in Twitter under @Authorfranks

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