What are rare earth minerals used for?

Crucial for making smartphones, fighter jets and electric cars, "rare earth" metals have become a strategic bargaining chip since main producer China this year introduced restrictions on their exports. As the EU unveils a plan on Wednesday for boosting European production of critical raw materials to reduce reliance on China, here are some facts about these 17 elements and their key uses:

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Global raw production of rare earths increased from 220,000 tonnes in 2019 to 390,000 tonnes in 2024 — an increase of 77 percent over five years, according to a benchmark commodities report by French research group Cercle Cyclope.

Four elements account for most of the sector’s economic value: neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium.

Magnets for wind turbines

These four "magnetic" rare earths are mainly used to make magnets, notably neodymium-iron-boron magnets — about 10 times more powerful than conventional ones.

Use of the rare elements maximises magnets’ performance while reducing size and weight, said Damien Ambroise, energy manager at French consultancy Bartle.

A single offshore wind turbine contains up to one tonne of such magnetic rare earths.