An Uncomfortable Reality: China's Rare Earth Chokehold May Outlast This Decade

What happened: ING analysts wrote that the US will not break China's rare earth chokehold this decade, since the main gaps sit in processing, heavy rare earth separation and magnet manufacturing rather than mining. Key numbers: China holds about 60% of mined magnet rare earths, 91% of refined output and 94% of permanent magnet Why it matters: Analysts point to industrial rather than geological limits, with announced capacity still far from current output. Barclays and Bloomberg Intelligence also question whether federal support translates into near-term supply and defense readiness.

ING analysts wrote that the US will not break China's rare earth chokehold this decade, since the main gaps sit in processing, heavy rare earth separation and magnet manufacturing rather than mining.

Analysts point to industrial rather than geological limits, with announced capacity still far from current output. Barclays and Bloomberg Intelligence also question whether federal support translates into near-term supply and defense readiness.