Tasman Comments on Recent Reduction in Chinese Rare Earth Element Export
Quotas

Chinese REE Export Quotas Fall by 40% in 2010

VANCOUVER, July 22 /CNW/ - Tasman Metals Ltd. ("Tasman" or the "Company") TSXV - TSM; Frankfurt - T61; Pink Sheets - TASXF. Mr Mark Saxon, President and CEO, highlights the recent announcement by China's Ministry of Commerce that rare earth element (REE) export quotas for the second half of 2010 have been substantially reduced.

In the first week of July 2010, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced the placement of six-monthly export quotas under which 32 metal trading companies supply REE's to foreign consumers. Whilst a modest reduction had been forecast, the magnitude of the quota reduction had not been anticipated, falling some 40% when compared to the 2009 export volumes. Most significantly, quotas for the export of REE's from China have been cut back to only 7,976 tonnes in the second half of 2010, down from 22,282 tonnes in the first half of 2010.

As China currently supplies 95% of the world's demand for REE's, this quota reduction is forecast by industry commentators to have a significant impact on REE availability and place further upward pressure on REE prices. These restrictions on the supply of metals that are so vital to expanding high-tech and green-tech industries, increases the likelihood of alternative supply sources being established outside China. Tasman's portfolio of heavy REE projects in the politically stable, mining friendly jurisdictions of Sweden and Finland has potential to provide one of these supply alternatives, in particular for the European region.

Export quotas on REE products were introduced by the Chinese government in 2003, to limit the export of China's strategic resource and encourage value adding inside China prior to export. Since 2005, Chinese export quotas have reduced progressively as shown:

    
                    Year            REE Export Quota      % Change
                   ------------------------------------------------
                    2005              65,609 tonnes
                   ------------------------------------------------
                    2006              61,821 tonnes           -6%
                   ------------------------------------------------
                    2007              59,643 tonnes           -4%
                   ------------------------------------------------
                    2008              56,939 tonnes           -5%
                   ------------------------------------------------
                    2009              50,145 tonnes          -12%
                   ------------------------------------------------
                    2010              30,258 tonnes          -40%
    

"While some export volume reduction was anticipated, the magnitude of this tightening of supply from China is a significant market signal" said Mark Saxon, Tasman's President & CEO. "When viewed with other recent Chinese announcements regarding a proposed REE price control mechanism, and a clamp down on black market selling of REE's, there are a number of factors acting in concert to push prices higher. The price of dysprosium (Dy), Tasman's main REE by value in our 100% owned Norra Karr project, has moved up more than 100% since January 2010, and with such supply pressure in place we expect prices to remain high."

Tasman hold numerous claims and claim applications across mining friendly regions in Scandinavia with potential for REE's, and is well placed as the European Union is actively supporting policies to promote the domestic supply of REE's to secure high-tech industry.

For more information regarding rare earth elements, see the Rare Metal Blog at www.raremetalblog.com or Resource Stock Digest at http://strategicmetalstocks.resourcestockdigest.com/. A recent interview with Tasman CEO Mark Saxon can be found at http://strategicmetalstocks.resourcestockdigest.com/featured_companies/tasman/index.php?&content_id=246

    
    On behalf of the Board,

    "Mark Saxon"
    ---------------------------
    Mark Saxon, President & CEO
    

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), nor the Frankfurt Stock Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward Looking Statements. This Company news release contains certain "forward-looking" statements and information relating to the Company that are based on the beliefs of the Company's management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management. Such statements reflect the current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitations, competitive factors, general economic conditions, customer relations, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, the interest rate environment, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, changes in industry practices, and one-time events. Should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein.

For further information: Investor Information: www.tasmanmetals.com, 1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7; Company Contact: Mariana Bermudez, [phone]; Investor Relation Consultants - Mining Interactive, Nick Nicolaas, [phone], Email: [email protected]