China Leads Global Mineral Production as West Diversifies Rare Earths

The Ministry of Natural Resources of China announced that by the end of 2025, China ranked first globally in the reserves of 14 mineral types and the production of 17 minerals. These reserves include graphite, gallium, germanium, and rare earths. In production, China led in 17 minerals, with 11 types accounting for more than half of the global total. The ministry also noted that China leads the world in over 30 metallurgical products, including steel, aluminum, and copper. Under the 15th Five-Year Plan for 2026-2030, the agency intends to prioritize technology-driven exploration of critical short-supply minerals such as cobalt, lithium, and copper.

In response to this dominance, Western nations are accelerating efforts to break China's monopoly on heavy rare earths. Lynas Rare Earths has begun producing samarium oxide and heavy rare earths at its facility in Malaysia, supported by a $96 million preliminary agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense. Other strategic moves include MP Materials' plans for a heavy rare earth refinery and USA Rare Earth's $2.8 billion acquisition of Brazil's Serra Verde Group. These initiatives aim to secure independent supplies for the U.S. defense industry before a 2027 deadline.