China Bans Export of Rare Earth Processing Technology

Move expected to impact global supply of strategic metals, as China controls around three-quarters of rare earth production.

China, the world's leading processor of rare earths, has banned the export of technology to extract and separate these strategic metals.
The ban is expected to have the biggest impact on 'heavy rare earths,' used in electric vehicle motors, medical devices, and weaponry, where China has a virtual monopoly on refining.
Rare earths are a group of 17 metals used to make magnets for use in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and electronics. China currently controls around three-quarters of rare earth production.
Western countries are increasingly treating the supply of these metals as a matter of national security, especially as the global energy transition is fueling fears of potential shortages.
The move comes as Europe and the United States scramble to wean themselves off rare earths from China, which accounts for 90% of global refined output.