Report: 70% of U.S. rare earth imports from 2000 to 2023 came from China
According to a report released by German data statistics company Statista citing research data from the U.S. Geological Survey, from 2000 to 2023, China accounted for 70% of rare earth imports in the United States.
The report points out that during the period from 2000 to 2023, 13% of U.S. rare earth imports came from Malaysia, 6% from Japan, 5% from Estonia, and the rest from other countries accounted for 6%.
The report also notes that the U.S. is 100% reliant on imports for yttrium, which is mainly used in electronics, metallurgy, laser industries, and other critical sectors. During the period from 2020 to 2023, 93% of the yttrium imported by the U.S. came from China.
In 2020, the U.S. dependence on foreign sources for rare earth imports was 100%, and from 2021 to 2023 it exceeded 95%. In 2024, the U.S. increased its own mining and production of rare earths, reducing its dependence to 80%.
On April 4, the Ministry of Commerce of China announced export control measures for certain medium and heavy rare earth-related items, including samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium. These measures will take effect upon publication.
Statista pointed out that the above-mentioned rare earths are important components widely used in products, ranging from automobiles and semiconductors to military equipment, including missiles and drones.
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829460394144772/
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