Ziyuan Kexue (Mar 2024)
Value analysis of the entire industrial chain of indium resources in China
Abstract
[Objective] Indium resources are an important supporting raw material for the development of China’s strategic emerging industries, and the study of the current status and dynamic evolution of the value flow of indium resources across the whole industry chain is of great strategic significance for the security of China’s indium resources and the sustainable development of its economy. [Methods] Based on the material flow framework of China’s indium resources in 2019, this paper utilizes the value chain analysis method and maps the value flow of China’s indium resources corresponding to the material flow process of indium resources according to the factor price theory, in order to evaluate and analyze the changes of value increase and decrease in the whole industry chain of China’s indium resources. [Results] (1) The total value of China’s indium resources industry chain shows an inverted U-shaped trend of increasing and then decreasing; (2) The stages with the highest value appreciation in the indium value chain are smelting and refining, with value increases of 922% and 1002% respectively. This is attributed to the substantial enhancement of indium resource grade due to the inputs of technology, labor, and energy, and that indium is a by-product metal with its associated zinc metal having relatively low value; (3) Although China is the world’s largest country in terms of indium resources, the indium resource industry chain still relies on imports to sustain its development; (4) Recycling of indium resources can have significant economic value. [Conclusion] Therefore, optimizing the indium resource industry chain, upgrading the production process and technology of high-end indium-containing products, and strengthening the recycling of indium-containing waste products are important ways to increase the value of indium resources in China.
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