China dominates the global supply of rare earths, essential for modern technology and climate transition. This dominance creates geopolitical risks for other nations. While rare earths are found globally, China refines most of the world's supply. Western coun…
Breaking China’s rare earth monopoly will define the next industrial era
China's monopoly on rare earth element refining creates geopolitical and supply chain risks for Western nations, as 80% of global refining capacity is controlled by China. This dominance exposes critical industries—including technology, defense, and clean energy—to potential disruptions or coercion. Nations must diversify supply chains to mitigate long-term dependencies.