ZGXT(SZ:000831) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-10-05 10:52Core Insights - The global competition among major powers is increasingly focused on rare earth elements, which significantly impact daily life and national security [1][3] - Rare earth elements, including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium, are essential for modern technology and military applications, earning them the title of "modern industrial vitamins" [3][5] - China holds the largest reserves of rare earth elements, with proven reserves of 44 million tons, accounting for 40% of the global total [6][10] Industry Overview - The Baotou Rare Earth Mine in Inner Mongolia is the largest rare earth mine globally, containing 83.7% of China's total reserves and 37.8% of the world's reserves [7][10] - China has developed a complete rare earth industry system, controlling 70% of global rare earth extraction and 90% of processing capacity, with a leading position in separation technology and patents [10][11] Strategic Importance - The increasing importance of rare earths in modern technology and defense has transformed them into strategic assets in international relations [11][26] - The U.S. Department of Defense has invested $400 million in a rare earth company, becoming its largest shareholder, to link the military-industrial complex with the rare earth supply chain [13][21] - The U.S. has also signed a ten-year price guarantee agreement for neodymium and praseodymium, indicating a strategic approach to securing rare earth supplies [14][15] Global Competition - Western countries are attempting to establish independent rare earth supply chains to reduce reliance on China, facing challenges such as funding, technology gaps, and talent shortages [16][18][20] - Estimates suggest that $300 billion is needed over ten years to build a complete rare earth supply chain in the West [17] - Despite efforts, it is unlikely that the dominance of China in the global rare earth supply chain will change in the short term [22][23] Future Outlook - The competition for rare earths is expected to intensify, with Western nations striving to create independent supply chains while China continues to innovate in key technology sectors [24][26] - The strategic significance of rare earths as a bridge between current and future technological advancements underscores their role in global industrial positioning [26]