Top 10 Largest Rare Earth Elements Producing Countries

Rare-earth elements (REE) are a collection of 17 virtually identical lustrous silvery-white soft heavy metals. The 17 rare earth elements are Lanthanum (La), Cerium (Ce), Praseodymium (Pr), Neodymium (Nd), Promethium (Pm), Samarium (Sm), Europium (Eu), Gadolinium (Gd), Terbium (Tb), Dysprosium (Dy), Holmium (Ho), Erbium (Er), Thulium (Tm), Ytterbium (Yb), Lutetium (Lu), Scandium (Sc), Yttrium (Y).

In this article, we are going to learn about the Top 10 Largest Rare Earth Elements Producing Countries in the world.

Top 10 Largest Rare Earth Elements Producing Countries

The top 10 Largest Rare Earth Elements Producing Countries are listed below :

Country	Production in 2022 in metric tonnes
China	210,000
USA	43,000
Australia	18,000
Myanmar	12,000
Thailand	7,100
Vietnam	4,300
India	2,900
Russia	2,600
Madagascar	960
Brazil	80

Let’s learn about each of them in detail.

10. Brazil

In 2012, a rare earth deposit worth $8.4 billion was identified in Brazil. The country’s rare earth reserves are 21,000,000 MT. So yet, it appears that little energy has been invested in the finding, with only 80 MT expected to be generated in Brazil by 2022.

• Brazil produced 80 metric tons of rare earth metals in 2022, ranking it as the tenth highest producer.
• This mine yield decreased from 500 to 600 metric tons in 2021 and 2020, respectively.
• However, the reduction is not due to a depletion of resources because Brazil possesses huge reserves of rare earth metals, estimated at 21 million metric tons.

9. Madagascar

Madagascar extracted 960 MT of rare earths in 2022, a substantial decrease from 6,800 MT the previous year. It owns the Tantalus rare earths project, which is estimated to possess 562,000 MT of rare earth oxides.

• In 2022, rare earth metal mines produced 960 metric tons.
• The island nation of Madagascar produced 960 metric tons of rare earth metals.
• While significant, this output fell from the 3,200 metric tons reported in 2021.
• This important decrease in production implies a more than 70% fall and suggests a major change in Madagascar’s mining industry, potentially affecting the worldwide supply chain of these important components.

8. Russia

Russia produced 2,600 MT of rare earths in 2022, around the same as the previous four years. Russia has reduced mining taxes and given discounted loans to investors in over a dozen projects to increase the country’s share of global rare earths production from 1.3 percent to 10 percent by 2030.

• Russia and Brazil are tied for third place in the world’s rare earth reserves.
• The war between Russia and Ukraine caused anticipated disruptions to the rare earth supply chain in the United States and Europe.
• Russia ranks ninth in our list of countries producing rare earth metals.
• Russia greatly boosted the global supply of rare earth metals by producing 2,600 metric tons in 2022.
• According to recent estimations, Russia has 21 million metric ton deposits of these precious components, which will impact the global mining sector in the foreseeable future.

7. India

India’s 2022 output was just 2,900 MT, unchanged from the previous year, accounting for approximately 1% of world rare earths supply.

• India’s rare earths output is far lower than its potential, despite the fact that the country has almost 35% of the world’s total beach sand mineral reserves, which are important sources of rare earths.
• In 2022, rare earth metal mine production was 2,900 metric tons.
• India is one of the world’s main rare earth metals producers, with a production of 2,900 metric tons in 2022.
• India’s efforts to locate rare earth elements have resulted in the discovery of a significant resource of these metals. According to current estimates, India possesses a reserve of 6.9 million metric tons of rare earth metals.
• Given its vast reserves that have yet to be explored, India is surely a vital role in supplying world demand for rare earth metals.

6. Vietnam

From 2021 to 2022, Vietnam’s rare earths production increased about elevenfold, from 400 MT to 4,300 MT.

• According to reports, the country has many rare earth material deposits, with concentrations near its northern border with China and along its eastern coastline.
• Vietnam is interested in increasing its clean energy capacity, particularly solar panels, and is reportedly trying to create additional rare earths for its supply chain as a result.
• Rare Earth Metal Mine Production in 2022 was 4300 metric tons.
• In 2022, Vietnam’s mining throughput for rare earth metals increased to 4,300 metric tons, up from 400 metric tons in 2021. This achievement shows the country’s increasing skill and dedication to rare earth extraction.
• Concurrently, the country has huge potential, with an estimated reserve base of 22 million metric tons of these critical elements, establishing itself as a prospective powerhouse in rare earth minerals.

5. Thailand

Thailand’s rare earths production more than doubled to 8,200 MT in 2021, up from 3,600 MT in 2020; however, that amount has dropped to 7,100 MT in 2022.

• Although the country’s rare earth reserves are unknown, it remains a top ten producer of rare earth metals.
• In 2022, it reported a rare earth metal production volume of 7,100 metric tons.
• Notably, Thailand’s rare earth metals output reached 8,200 metric tons in 2021, more than doubling the production in 2020, which was 3,600 metric tons.

4. Myanmar

Myanmar extracted 12,000 MT of rare earths in 2022, a decrease of more than 65 percent from 35,000 MT the previous year.

• There is little information known on the country’s rare earth mineral reserves and mining projects, but it maintains a close relationship with China.
• Myanmar produces 70% of China’s medium to heavy rare earth feedstock. Myanmar experienced a military takeover in 2021, which may have an impact on reported rare earth output.
• Myanmar’s mine output of rare earth metals was estimated to be 12,000 metric tons in 2022.
• The country’s production volumes are mostly composed of dysprosium and terbium, with scandium and yttrium producing minor amounts.
• Its REE exports reached $803 million in 2021, despite the country’s challenging sociopolitical backdrop and expanding mining infrastructures.

3. Australia

Rare earths production in Australia has been gradually increasing over the last few years. However, in 2022, the country’s output plummeted to 18,000 MT from 24,000 MT in 2021.

• Lynas operates the Mount Weld mine and concentration plant in the nation, and announced intentions in 2019 to increase neodymium-praseodymium production to 10,500 MT per year by 2025.
• Northern Minerals, an Australian firm, opened the country’s first heavy rare earth mine in 2018. Terbium and dysprosium are its principal products, with the latter being employed in technology like permanent magnets.
• The country mined 18,000 metric tons of rare earth metals in 2022, a little decrease from 24,000 metric tons in 2021.
• This bountiful rare earth metals output reflects the country’s enormous rare earth potential, with reserves estimated to be 4.2 million metric tons.
• The Mount Weld Mine is Australia’s most prominent rare earth metals mine, with cutting-edge equipment for extracting REEs from other minerals.

2. United States

The United States produced 43,000 MT of rare earths in 2022, up from 42,000 MT the previous year. The Mountain Pass mine in California is now the only source of rare earths in the United States, having resumed production in Q1 2018 after being put on care and maintenance in Q4 2015.

• It was operated by Molycorp before going bankrupt, and it was then purchased by MP Mine Operation, now MP Materials.
• The United States is a major importer of rare earth minerals, with demand for compounds and metals estimated at $200 million in 2022, up from $160 million in 2021.
• The country has classed rare earths as critical minerals, a distinction highlighted by trade tensions between the United States and China.
• This significant reserve capacity indicates the possibility of ongoing and increased domestic production in the future.
• The Mountain Pass Mine in southeastern California is currently the largest rare earth metals mine in the United States. It is an open-pit mine with significant mining capability.

1. China

China has long been the dominant producer of rare earths. In 2022, its domestic output of 210,000 MT increased from 168,000 MT the previous year.

• Chinese producers must follow a quota system for rare earths production.
• The limit for rare earth smelting and separation in 2022 has been set at 202,000 MT (increased from 162,000 MT the previous year).
• Interestingly, this approach enabled China to become the world’s largest importer of rare earths in 2018.
• China is the world’s greatest producer of rare earth metals, accounting for more than 70% of total production. The country’s mine yield of rare earth metals was 0.21 metric tons in 2022.
• China also possesses the biggest resources of rare earth metals, totaling 44 million metric tons. The Bayan Obo Mining District in Inner Mongolia is China’s principal REE deposit and the world’s largest known REE deposit.

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FAQs on Top 10 Largest Rare Earth Elements Producing Countries

Is Zirconium a rare earth element?

No, zirconium is not a rare earth element.

What is called rare earth element?

Rare earth elements (REEs) are a set of seventeen chemical elements from the periodic table, including the fifteen lanthanides, scandium, and yttrium. These elements have distinct properties that make them useful in a variety of technological applications, including electronics, magnets, catalysts, and optics.

What is rarest element on earth?

Astatine (At) is rarest element on earth.

What is unique about rare earth elements?

Unique unique about rare earth elements are luminous, conductive, and magnetic characteristics.

Which country has rare earth elements?

China has rare earth elements.

Does India have rare earth elements?

Yes, India has rare earth elements.