By Lauren Fix
China is mulling a new export ban on rare earth magnets, as the United States plans to push a sweeping set of rules, calling for over half of all passenger cars sold in the country to be electric by 2032. Are the two countries on a collision course? And as the United States works to reduce reliance on China, will efforts like these actually dig the West into deeper dependence? Some lawmakers say yes. This is a HUGE story.
China is planning an export ban on rare earth magnets on the grounds of “national security,” according to recent reports. These magnets are found in electric vehicles, wind turbine motors, and even military planes. The United States and other Western countries are pushing toward what the government calls decarbonization, while China looks to corner the growing electric vehicle market because it currently dominates in this sector of rare earth magnets and minerals.
If this ban comes into action, it’ll put a dent in the goals of the United States and Europe, which don’t manufacture or mine these minerals on their own.
The US is vulnerable to a China ban on rare earths as the US imports 78% of their rare earths from China. The rare earth mineral demand forecast by UBS is to increase by 655% in a 100% EV world.
With the US-China trade war deteriorating it is becoming increasingly likely that China may ban exports of rare earths to the USA. This would lead to a scramble by the US and other countries to source non-Chinese rare earth minerals.
I recently posted an episode called, “How did China come to dominate the world of electric cars?”. Most people have not realized the extent of what has happening, China became a world leader in making and buying electric vehicles. All this happened in just the past two years, the number of EVs sold annually in the China grew from 1.3 million to a whopping 6.8 million, making 2022 the eighth consecutive year in which China was the world’s largest market for EVs.
The Chinese government took steps to invest in related technologies as early as 2001; that year, EV technology was introduced as a priority science research project in China’s Five-Year Plan, the country’s highest-level economic blueprint.
Over 70% of the critical materials like cobalt, nickel sulfate, lithium hydroxide, and graphite are controlled by China. They have the ultimate control of the sector, which China has clearly pursued for years well before other companies even figured that this was something important. Chinese made EV batteries are not only available at a discount but also are available in much higher quantities because the manufacturing capacity has been built out in China. However, this makes other car companies beholden to China, who controls the bulk of the supply chain for batteries.
Rare earths are used in the drives of computers, mobile phones, mp3 players and cameras. They are also used in hybrid electric motors, luxury electric car motors, wind turbines, aerospace, military applications, mag-lev trains, and other consumer products like televisions, washing machines, vacuum cleaners and alike.
Certainly the two key rare earths used for permanent magnets in EV motors are neodymium (Nd) and praseodymium (Pr). Even despite the trade war threatening supply, these two key ‘magnet rare earths’ will see surging demand from the EV boom. In fact, in a 100% EV world demand for the magnet rare earths is forecast by UBS to increase by 655%.
As I have said in the past China will use their control of rare earth minerals to squeeze the US and the world. China has a history of manipulation of the rare earth market due to their dominant role in the supply chain. The USA currently imports 100% of these minerals, mainly from Canada and Brazil (from a Chinese company).
Lauren Fix, The Car Coach®, is a nationally recognized automotive expert, analyst, author, and television host. A trusted car expert, Lauren provides an insider’s perspective on a wide range of automotive topics and aspects, energy, industry, consumer news, and safety issues.
Lauren is the CEO of Automotive Aspects and the Editor-in-Chief of Car Coach Reports, a global automotive news outlet. She is an automotive contributor to national and local television news shows, including Fox News, Fox Business, CNN International, The Weather Channel, Inside Edition, Local Now News, Community Digital News, and more. Lauren also co-hosts a regular show on ABC.com with Paul Brian called “His Turn – Her Turn” and hosts regular radio segments on USA Radio – DayBreak.
Lauren is honored to be inducted into the Women’s Transportation Hall of Fame and a Board Member of the Buffalo Motorcar Museum and Juror / President for the North American Car, Utility & Truck of the Year Awards.
Check her out on Twitter and Instagram @LaurenFix.
