Rare earth hits US gasoline producers?

The high cost of rare earth metals is pushing up the cost of gasoline production in the US, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The cost in producing gasoline could be up by a penny a gallon due to the price increase of rare earth metals, the newspaper reported.
Rare earth elements accounts for 4 percent of catalysts used in gasoline making, and the recent price increase of them has added an extra 25 percent to catalyst costs, the paper cited the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association as saying.
Lanthanum and cerium are the elements used in this sector, know as gasoline-making fluid catalytic cracking units, or FCCUs, the report said, citing Lynas Corp Ltd, the Australian rare-earth supplier.

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704055204576068270214808518.html?mod=googlenews_wsj