China’s weaponised rare earth metals

China, which dominates both the mining and processing of rare earth
metals, is restricting their export to the United States as part
of its response to President Trump’s punitive tariffs

GLOBAL MINED PRODUCTION OF RARE METALS, 2024 (tonnes)

1
2
3
4
5
6
8
7
9

Chinese
President
Xi Jinping

1. China
270,000

2. U.S.
45,000

3. Myanmar
31,000

4. Australia
13,000

5. Nigeria
13,000

6. Thailand
13,000

7. India
2,900

8. Russia
2,500

9. Madagascar
2,000

Other
1,550

Total
393,950

Gadolinium

SEVEN RARE METALS CHINA ADDED TO EXPORT CONTROLS

Metals

Dysprosium
Gadolinium
Lutetium
Samarium
Scandium
Terbium
Yttrium

Example uses

Alloys for magnets used in motors and generators
Injected dyes for MRI scans, alloys, nuclear reactors
Chemical catalyst fluid for oil refineries
Turbines, cars, weapons, optical lasers, nuclear reactors
Parts of fighter planes, oil refining, underground pipes
Light bulbs, smartphone screens, magnets, weapons
Treat liver cancer, medical lasers, alloys, superconductors
U.S. has almost no processing ability for metals targeted by China

Sources: Bloomberg, U.S. Geological Survey
Pictures: Getty, Creative Commons
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