China’s rare earth export control exposes global supply-chain vulnerability, pushes G7 to confront single-source dependence
Rare earth elements were formed billions of years ago through cosmic processes, but their importance has never been more immediate. Once treated as a niche mineral group, rare earths now sit at the centre of the global contest for its strategic value in developing technology, clean energy, defence capability, and industrial security. And in this contest, the winner is not who owns the maximum reserves, but who is efficient in processing, refining, and turning into usable industrial inputs.
And this is where China holds its strongest advantage
China has the world’s highest identified rare earth reserves, estimated at around 44 million tonnes. But there are also the countries like Vietnam, Brazil, Canada, Russia, India, Australia, and the United States who have notable reserves of 22 million tonnes, 21 million tonnes, 15.2 million tonnes, 12 million tonnes, 6.9 million tonnes, 5.7 million tonnes, and 2.3 million tonnes, respectively. If China individually accounts for 44 to 49 per cent, Brazil and Vietnam together also account for 32-38 per cent of the world’s identified reserves.
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