[baybal2]

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.

[nradov]

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...

[bell-cot]

Hmm. Magnesium is anything but scarce -

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]

Energy is scarce though. Only Chinese smelters have dolomite based production, which is much cheaper than bruteforce electrolysis.

[bell-cot]

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]

High quality magnesite, magnesia, and dolomites are scarce, but central China is one big slab of them.

[s1artibartfast]

They already have the market cornered. They produce over 90% of the global supply.

[raldi]

What’s the connection between the two metals?

[slavboj]

"Aluminum" is sold and used as an alloy, not as pure elemental Al. 6061 grade aluminum for instance has ~1% magnesium.

[baybal2]

Almost all structural aluminium in use is duraluminium. You need magnesium for duraluminium alloys.

[c_o_n_v_e_x]

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.