Rare earth elements may be obscure to most consumers, but they sit inside the magnets, motors and sensors that run much of the modern economy.
In a four-part audio series, host Devan Murugan argues the challenge for governments and manufacturers is no longer whether the metals exist in the ground, but who can count on getting them.
“Access to these materials isn’t just about geology. It’s about power,” Murugan said.
China dominated supply last year, mining about 270,000 tonnes of rare-earth-oxide equivalent out of roughly 390,000 tonnes globally. It also controls most processing capacity, a chokepoint for anyone trying to build a non-Chinese supply chain.
Watch the first installment below:
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