Overview
- A vbw commodities index shows dollar prices for the 17 rare-earth elements rose 8.2% quarter on quarter in Q3 after an 8.9% jump in Q2.
- Neodymium climbed 31.8% and praseodymium 25.7% in Q3, key inputs for high-strength magnets widely used in electric and hybrid vehicle motors.
- China provides roughly two-thirds of global rare-earth mining and about 90% of industrial processing, concentrating supply risk.
- Beijing introduced and later tightened export controls this year and has now signaled a pause on some measures after the Xi–Trump meeting, with no trade deal or specifics announced.
- Germany’s auto industry depends heavily on Chinese supplies—imports of neodymium, praseodymium and samarium are nearly complete from China—prompting security reviews, while BMW pursues magnet‑free motor designs in newer generations.