The rare earths production landscape in 2023 was dominated by China, producing 105 million metric tons, significantly ahead of Australia with 20 million metric tons. Russia and Brazil followed, contributing 3 and 2 million metric tons, respectively. Other notable producers included Thailand, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
Between 2022 and 2023, production in China showed a substantial increase, while Australia's growth was moderate. Russia and Brazil had minimal changes. Over the last five years, China experienced consistent growth, positioning it firmly as the global leader, with Australia also showing positive year-over-year improvements.
Future trends to watch include potential diversification of supply chains, technological advancements in extraction and processing, and policies from various governments aimed at reducing dependence on China's production by investing in domestic production capabilities and encouraging international partnerships.
Top countries in Top Rare Earths Producing Countries
| # | 8 Countries | Thousand Metric Tons | Last Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 China | 105,000 | 2017 | |
| 2 | 2 Australia | 20,000 | 2017 | |
| 3 | 3 Russia | 3,000 | 2017 | |
| 4 | 4 Brazil | 2,000 | 2017 | |
| 5 | 5 Thailand | 1,600 | 2017 | |
| 6 | 6 India | 1,500 | 2017 | |
| 7 | 7 Malaysia | 300 | 2017 | |
| 8 | 8 Vietnam | 100 | 2017 |
