Country Report
China
Overview
China dominates rare earth element refining (roughly 70% of global supply) and is a major graphite producer, both critical for magnets, wind turbines, EV batteries, and defense technology. Environmental damage from rare earth mining and refining is well-documented, including radioactive tailings and water contamination. Opacity in supply chains, labor concerns, and geopolitical concentration of processing capacity are key risks for the global energy transition.
Map & Major Mines
Major mining/refining areas: Baotou (Inner Mongolia) rare earths; Jiangxi heavy rare earths; Heilongjiang graphite.
Major Players
Companies: China Northern Rare Earth, China Minmetals, Aluminum Corp of China, Baotou Steel Rare Earth
Governing Bodies: Ministry of Industry and IT, National Development and Reform Commission, provincial governments