Rare Earth

Rare Earths and the F-35: The Defense Supply-Chain Bottleneck Behind America's Most Advanced Fighter Jet

In September 2022, the Pentagon quietly stopped taking delivery of new F-35 fighter jets. The reason was not a design flaw or a manufacturing defect. A single small magnet inside the plane's engine had been made using an alloy from China, which is banned under U.S. defense procurement law.

August 6, 2026

2 min

Rare Earths Reserves in 2023

As of 2023, global reserves were estimated at 115.4 million metric tons (MT), with China, Vietnam and Brazil holding most significant part of these reserves.

December 9, 2024

1 min

Global Rare Earth Metals Production 2023

Global rare earth element (REE) production reached approximately 350,000 metric tons in 2023. China maintained its dominance as the largest producer of rare earths, accounting for 240,000 metric tons, a significant rise from 210,000 tons in 2022. This output represents nearly 70% of the global total. China is home to some of the world's largest rare earth mines, with significant operations in key regions:

December 3, 2024

1 min