On page 93 on the January PM issue just out, it states that 80% of Mountain Pass's product has already been spoken for and that Hitachi is heavily involved with Mountain Pass. I smell a BIG BUYOUT or at least a strategic partnership!
After their earthwquake that showed how vulnerable their centralized "just-in-time" inventory system was, they have been diversifying and securing critical resources. Example: Mitisubi's 25% partnership with SWC to mine platinum and palladium in Canada. Now with their soured relations with China, I believe they will be very aggressive in securing critical supplies.