China’s Critical Minerals Grip Puts $6.5 Trillion of Global Industry at Risk

The global critical minerals market remains highly concentrated, and new threats to supply security have emerged in recent months as China has curbed exports of some rare earth elements, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday. The Chinese government introduced major export controls on heavy rare earth elements last year. Although further expanded controls have been suspended until November 2026, their full implementation – if China decides to go through with it –could put an estimated $6.5 trillion per year of downstream production outside China at risk across the automotive, high-tech, defense, and energy sectors, the IEA said in its…