西方矿业投资者警告美国：赢不了中国，因为钱砸得不够多

Core Insights - The U.S. government is increasingly anxious about its reliance on China for rare earth materials and is investing heavily, but results have been limited [1][6] - Industry representatives suggest that the U.S. needs to invest more than China to challenge its dominance in the global rare earth supply chain [1][6] Investment and Government Action - Brian Menell, CEO of TechMet, emphasizes the need for the U.S. to exceed China's spending on critical mineral projects to ensure supply chain security [1][3] - TechMet has received approximately $105 million in funding from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to support its mining initiatives [3] Strategic Partnerships and Projects - Menell advocates for direct government involvement to mitigate early project risks and accelerate development of critical mineral capacities [3] - TechMet is currently bidding for the Dobra lithium deposit in Ukraine, which is part of the U.S.-Ukraine Natural Resources Initiative, requiring a minimum investment of $179 million [3] Global Market Dynamics - China dominates the rare earth market, accounting for over 60% of global production and 92% of processing capabilities as of 2023 [6][7] - The U.S. has been heavily reliant on China for rare earth imports, with 70% of its compounds and metals sourced from China between 2020 and 2023 [6] Challenges in Supply Chain Development - Analysts warn that the U.S. and its allies face significant challenges in quickly establishing a rare earth refining network to replace China's [7] - Despite investments in alternative supply chains, experts believe it could take at least five years for the U.S. and allies to catch up to China's processing capabilities [7]