China Dominates Rare Earths Supply Chain

China now handles roughly 90% of global rare earth processing, concentrating extraction, separation and refining in industrial hubs such as Baotou, Inner Mongolia.

That dominance underpins essential industries: permanent magnets for electric motors, catalysts, batteries and certain defense systems. Many U.S. manufacturers — especially automakers ramping up electric vehicles — remain dependent on Chinese refinement and component supply.

Creating a full domestic supply chain requires more than opening mines. It means building separation and hydrometallurgical plants, developing downstream magnet and alloy production, securing chemical feedstocks, meeting environmental standards, and scaling investment and workforce skills. Those steps are capital- and time-intensive; analysts say achieving parity could take decades.

China’s advantage comes from integrated clusters, long-term industrial policy and scale economies. U.S. efforts focus on mine permitting reforms, targeted subsidies, recycling, and public–private partnerships to expand processing and reduce strategic risk, but progress is incremental.

The strategic implication is clear: without rapid scaling of diversified supply, recycling and alternative materials, U.S. industry and national security will continue to face exposure to Chinese control and potential export or price disruptions.