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美国稀土进口的来源结构——70%来自中国;马来西亚日本也出口
Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-08-12 06:57

Core Insights - China plays a dominant role in the global rare earth elements (REEs) supply chain, providing 70% of the U.S. rare earth imports from 2020 to 2023, significantly more than any other country [1][3] - The U.S. relies heavily on China for key rare earth elements, with 90% of global rare earth production coming from China, which also possesses the largest separation and refining capabilities [3][5] - The U.S. is actively seeking new international supply partners, such as Ukraine, to reduce dependence on Chinese rare earth supplies and ensure stable access to strategic resources [7] Summary by Category Supply Chain Dynamics - China accounts for 70% of U.S. rare earth imports, followed by Malaysia (13%), Japan (6%), and Estonia (5%), with other countries making up the remaining 6% [3] - The actual abundance of rare earth elements in the earth's crust is not low, but the challenge lies in discovering economically viable deposits and refining them sustainably [3] Key Rare Earth Elements - Key rare earth elements heavily reliant on Chinese supply include Yttrium, Samarium, Gadolinium, Terbium, Dysprosium, Lutetium, and Scandium, which are essential for military equipment, electric motors, and next-generation electronics [5] U.S. Strategic Moves - In response to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, China has implemented export restrictions on seven rare earth elements, temporarily halting their export [7] - The Mountain Pass mine in California is currently the only rare earth mine in the U.S., but it relies on China for refining the extracted ore [7] - The U.S. is pursuing resource development agreements with Ukraine, which has the largest exploitable rare earth reserves in Europe, to enhance its competitive position in the international market [7]