Rare Earth Magnet Crisis: A Dent in Indian Auto Sector

China's export control leads to backlog in global supply chains

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi

APPLICATION AND USES OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS

• Dysprosium: High-performance NdFeB magnets (electric vehicle motors, wind turbines), lasers, catalysts, nuclear reactors

• Terbium: High-performance NdFeB magnets, green phosphors, lasers, fluorescent lamps, optical computer memories

• Samarium: Samarium-cobalt magnets (specialised, high-temperature magnets), nuclear reactor control rods and lasers

• Gadolinium: Specialised magnets, MRI contrast agent, memory chips and nuclear reactor shielding

• Scandium: High-strength alloys (aerospace), electronics, superalloys and semiconductors

• Yttrium: High-strength alloys, ceramics, electronics, TV phosphors and rechargeable batteries

• Neodymium: Permanent magnets (NdFeB), electric motors, wind turbines, hard disk drives and lasers

• Praseodymium: Magnets, lasers, pigments, cryogenic refrigerant and wind turbines

The Indian automotive sector, particularly electric vehicle (EV) segment, is grappling with a supply-chain disruption due to China's export restrictions on rare earth magnets. These functionally critical components are indispensable for modern vehicles, and their scarcity threatens to impact production, new model launches, and the industry's ambitious growth trajectory.

Rare earth magnets, and why are they critical?