China built a rare earth empire-India is still stuck in the mines

Despite hosting the world's third largest known reserves of rare earths, these critical minerals will remain a critical challenge for India

 

Rare earths have made rare headlines ever since China effectively wielded its rare earth exports (particularly permanent magnets made with rare earths) as a weapon in its trade war with the United States.  China produces about 70 per cent of the global supply of rare earths and almost 90 per cent of rare earth magnets, and its dominance in this sector will not dissipate anytime soon. Restrictions on rare earth metals and magnet exports have hit our automobile industry, particularly electric vehicles (EVs), hard. They are also used in medical devices, smartphones, wind turbines, semiconductors, missiles and aircraft. We