China’s rare earth export controls

The United States has called on Australia and Canada to develop their rare earth minerals after China threatened to stop exports to America. Rare earth elements are crucial to advanced U.S. weapons


High-strength magnets, electric motors, fuel cells, computers

Each F-35 uses 417kg of rare earth alloys

Neodymium (Nd) 
Praseodymium (Pr)
Samarium (Sm)
Dysprosium (Dy)
Terbium (Tb)


Electronic warfare, radar, sonar

Lasers, guidance, control, targeting

Lanthanum (La)
Lutetium (Lu)
Cerium (Ce)
Yttrium (Y)
Europium (Eu)
Gadolinium (Gd)
Holmium (Ho)
Scandium (Sc)
Thulium (Tm)
Ytterbium (Yb)
Promethium (Pm)
Erbium (Er)


Rare earth production (thousand tonnes)
China	China exports 	World total

150							170
	110 	110 	110 	130 	126 	132
100				105 	105 	105	120
	95	95	95
50

0	16.3 	22.5 	27.8	34.8	46.8 	51.2	53.0
	2012 	2013 	2014 	2015 	2016 	2017 	2018
	
18,850 tonnes
U.S. rare earth imports from China


Sources: U.S. Geological Survey, Reuters 
Pictures: Ames Laboratory
© GRAPHIC NEWS