China’s Rare‑Earth Clampdown

A seismic twist in the US–China trade war just exposed America’s vulnerability: Beijing has imposed export controls on seven “heavy” rare earths and magnets; those critical ingredients behind everything from EV motors and wind turbines to F‑35 jets and MRI scanners. China today supplies about 61% of the world’s rare earth extraction and a whopping 92% of its processing capacity, giving it near‑total control over the supply chain for these indispensable materials.

Why does this matter? The US relies on China for roughly 70% of its rare earth imports, and has virtually no domestic heavy‑lanthanide refining capacity. With new licensing requirements in place, manufacturers and defence contractors face potential shortages, price spikes, and production delays across high‑tech sectors.

(Further reading: BBC Article – Why China curbing rare earth exports is a huge blow to the US)

Yet while headlines focus on belt‑tightening, some rare earths are already bucking the downturn in traditional markets. As of today, Terbium has surged +42.03% year‑to‑date, and Dysprosium is up +28.55%, even as major equity indices languish in negative territory. Neodymium and Praseodymium haven’t yet made their move, but with soaring demand for powerful Nd‑Pr magnets in EVs and renewables, both are primed for significant upside in the months ahead.

Now is a pivotal moment to diversify your portfolio with rare earths. See how all nine of our metals have performed this year—and why they offer a compelling hedge against market volatility:

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