17/04/2025
Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 chemically similar metallic elements found in the Earth’s crust. They include:
• The 15 lanthanides:
Lanthanum (La), Cerium (Ce), Praseodymium (Pr), Neodymium (Nd), Promethium (Pm), Samarium (Sm), Europium (Eu), Gadolinium (Gd), Terbium (Tb), Dysprosium (Dy), Holmium (Ho), Erbium (Er), Thulium (Tm), Ytterbium (Yb), and Lutetium (Lu)
• Plus two others often grouped with them due to similar properties:
Scandium (Sc) and Yttrium 👍
Why are they called “rare”?
They’re not actually that rare in Earth’s crust — some are more common than gold — but they’re rarely found in concentrated, economically exploitable forms. They often occur together, which makes their separation complex and expensive.
What are they used for?
REEs are critical in modern technologies. Some key uses include:
• Magnets (in wind turbines, electric vehicle motors, and headphones)
• Phosphors (in screens, TVs, and LED lights)
• Batteries (especially nickel-metal hydride types)
• Catalysts (in petroleum refining and car exhaust systems)
• Military tech (guided missiles, lasers, and radar systems)
China
1. Global Dominance in Production:
• China controls over 60–70% of the world’s rare earth mining and over 80% of processing capacity.
• It has used this dominance as leverage in trade disputes.
2. Industrial Development:
• China uses REEs in tech manufacturing (smartphones, EVs, solar panels).
• REEs support key initiatives like “Made in China 2025”, aimed at global leadership in advanced tech.
3. Economic Leverage:
• Controlling the supply chain gives China economic and geopolitical influence, especially over countries dependent on REEs.
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United States
1. National Security:
• REEs are critical for military systems: radar, precision-guided weapons, jet engines, and satellites.
• The Pentagon considers REEs a strategic priority.
2. Tech and Clean Energy:
• U.S. industries need REEs for electric vehicles, wind turbines, semiconductors, and electronics.
3. Supply Chain Vulnerability:
• The U.S. has REE deposits (like the Mountain Pass mine in California) but lacks domestic processing infrastructure.
• There’s a big push now to build up domestic and allied supply chains (e.g., with Australia, Canada, and the EU) to reduce reliance on China.
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So in short, China has the supply, and America has the demand — and that dynamic creates a lot of geopolitical tension and strategic maneuvering.