80%稀土都从中国进口？现在欧美却打算独立开采，到底怎么回事？

Core Insights - The high import ratio of rare earth elements (REE) in Western countries is due to China's dominance in the separation and purification processes, which account for over 90% of global capacity [2][8] - Despite efforts over the past decade to diversify supply chains, Western countries remain heavily reliant on China for rare earth materials, with significant progress still needed to achieve independence by 2030 [10][18] Group 1: Historical Context - In 2010, a diplomatic incident between China and Japan led to a temporary halt in rare earth exports from China, causing prices to surge dramatically, highlighting the vulnerability of Japan's reliance on Chinese supplies [4][6] - Following the incident, Japan and the U.S. took steps to diversify their rare earth sources, with Japan utilizing its national reserves and the U.S. evaluating the reopening of domestic mines [4][6] Group 2: Current Production and Capacity - As of 2024, global rare earth mine production is projected to reach 390,000 tons, with China contributing 270,000 tons, representing 69% of total production [8][14] - The U.S. is expected to produce approximately 45,000 tons from the Mountain Pass mine in 2024, which would account for over 10% of global production [6][10] Group 3: Future Demand and Supply Challenges - The demand for rare earth elements is expected to grow significantly, with electric vehicles requiring 1-2 kg of REE each and wind turbines needing 200 kg per megawatt [10][12] - By 2030, the demand for rare earth materials in magnets could potentially double, further straining supply chains [10][12] Group 4: Regulatory and Environmental Factors - Western countries face challenges in reopening and operating rare earth mines due to stringent environmental regulations and community opposition, which have slowed progress [6][8] - The U.S. and EU are investing heavily in domestic production and recycling initiatives, but current recovery rates remain low, insufficient to meet future demands [12][14] Group 5: Strategic Partnerships and Future Outlook - Companies in the U.S. and Europe are forming partnerships to secure rare earth supplies while simultaneously working to establish their own production capabilities [16][20] - Despite the slow progress, the long-term goal remains to reduce dependency on Chinese imports, although achieving complete independence may take another decade [18][20]