SMRTR Science & EngineeringJun 28, 2026Interesting Engineering

North America has enough rare earths to break China’s global choke hold, study finds

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North America holds enough rare earth deposits to reduce dependence on China, which currently supplies 70% of the global market, but mining them domestically will cost more and require government support. A University of Michigan study found US-Canadian cooperation could build a competitive supply chain, especially as global demand grows from 91 kilotons in 2024 to 150 kilotons by 2040.

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