Rare earths are China's bargaining chip in the trade war — the U.S. is trying to fix that

Core Insights - Rare earths are critical elements in the U.S.-China trade war, with China controlling approximately 70% of mining and 90% of processing [2][3] - The U.S. is making efforts to establish a domestic supply chain for rare earths, highlighted by a $400 million investment in MP Materials and a $1 billion loan from Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan [4] Industry Overview - Rare earth magnets are essential for various applications, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, defense equipment, and high-tech consumer electronics [2] - China's monopoly in the rare earth market has increased, with low production costs making it difficult for other producers to compete [3] Company Developments - MP Materials is the only operational rare earth mine in the U.S., located in Mountain Pass, California, and is expanding its magnet-making operations [4] - Energy Fuels has been refining rare earths at its White Mesa facility and plans to increase production from 1,000 metric tons to 6,000 metric tons of NdPr, which could support up to 6 million electric vehicles [5][6] - Energy Fuels is also advancing its capabilities to produce other heavy rare earths, such as dysprosium, terbium, and samarium, contingent on government incentives [6] Market Dynamics - China's export controls on rare earths have disrupted various industries, particularly the automotive sector, as part of its response to perceived unfair actions by the U.S. and other countries [3][4] - Despite advancements in U.S. production capabilities, experts indicate that the country remains heavily reliant on China for rare earth materials [6]