As global demand for rare-earth elements continues to grow, interest in these strategic materials is expanding beyond traditional producers. Used in everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to wind turbines and defense systems, rare earths are an essential part of the modern economy. At the same time, experiences from current leading producers raise important questions about the environmental and social impacts of rare earth extraction.
China’s experience with rare earth production
China plays a central role in the rare earth market, producing more than 60% of the world’s supply and handling around 85% of global processing. The country extracts key...