Core Viewpoint - A significant shift in the global rare earth supply chain is underway, driven by China's stringent control measures against foreign companies hoarding resources, which is reshaping the global industrial landscape [1] Group 1: China's Control Measures - China holds 90% of global rare earth processing and 94% of permanent magnet production, maintaining this dominance for the past decade [1] - Export quotas are being dynamically tightened, with a 157.5% month-on-month increase in rare earth magnet exports in June 2025, but a 38.1% year-on-year decrease [1] - A full-chain traceability system is mandated, requiring all rare earth batches to be recorded, with any untraceable materials deemed illegal [4] Group 2: Impact on Foreign Enterprises - Foreign companies face strategic dilemmas due to strict controls; for instance, a European magnet manufacturer was blacklisted after ordering 300 tons of neodymium-iron-boron [6] - Companies like Regal Rexnord have had to relocate production to China to circumvent export controls, highlighting increased dependency on Chinese manufacturing [6] - Korean automakers have downgraded to lower-performance magnets to mitigate risks, resulting in decreased motor efficiency and increased consumer complaints [6] Group 3: Objectives of China's Regulations - The regulations aim to prevent resource abuse, with past mining practices leading to pollution exceeding standards by 2.5 times [8] - Military-related rare earths are included in control lists, while civilian applications can benefit from expedited approvals through "green channels" [8] - China's export control measures have led to a rebound in rare earth prices, significantly improving domestic company profit margins [8] Group 4: Global Consequences - The automotive industry is facing urgent shortages of neodymium-iron-boron magnets, with some models at risk of production halts [9] - Wind energy projects are stalled due to a lack of permanent magnets, and the U.S. military supply chain is disrupted, forcing the Pentagon to rely on strategic reserves [9] - Historical cases, such as the 2010 ban on rare earth exports to Japan, illustrate the vulnerability of Western nations in the rare earth supply chain [9]