Infographic

Rare earths in numbers

Rare earths (REE) drawn as one poster: 390 kt of world mine production in 2025, China the largest producer, 9 critical mineral lists. Scroll to draw it, then download it as SVG or PNG.

PROSPECTOR TRAILS · INFOGRAPHIC · DATA YEAR 2025Rare earthsREETechnology metal · symbol REERare earths are 17 elements. The magnet metals (neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium)make NdFeB permanent magnets for electric motors, wind turbines, electronics and defencesystems, and drive most of the market's value.WORLD MINE PRODUCTION 2025390 ktREO. USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries.TOP PRODUCER: CHINA69%270 kt of the world total in 2025.WORLD RESERVES 202585 MtLargest in China (44 Mt). REO.CRITICAL MINERAL LISTS9Current government critical or strategic lists naming rareearths, across 8 jurisdictions.TOP 3 PRODUCERS90%US NET IMPORT RELIANCE 202567%PRICE 20251.71 $/kgTOP PRODUCERS 2025Where rare earths comes fromChina270 kt69%United States51 kt13%Australia29 kt7.4%Myanmar22 kt5.6%Thailand4.8 kt1.2%India2.9 kt0.7%Madagascar2.7 kt0.7%Russia2.6 kt0.7%Brazil2.0 kt0.5%Nigeria1.5 kt0.4%Mine production, REO. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, estimates.Mine output was about 390 kt REO in 2025: China about 270 kt (about 69%), the US 51 kt, Australia 29kt and Myanmar 22 kt. Reserves are about 85 Mt REO, half in China and a quarter in Brazil. IEA putsthe top three countries at 94% of refining, and China makes most of the world's magnets.1900–2020A century of rare earths production0.00 t62 kt125 kt188 kt250 kt190019171934195119691986200320202020: 243 kt1900: 1.0 ktWorld production, USGS column 'World production'. Source: USGS Data Series 140, historical statistics.PRODUCING COUNTRIES12 countries reported rare earths output in 2025Filled countries produce it; brighter is larger. Outline map simplified from Natural Earth.DEMAND BY END USE 2025What rare earths is used for93 ktTOTAL DEMAND 2025Electric vehicles12%Wind11%Other uses77%IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026, REE content, four magnet rare earths (Nd, Pr, Dy, Tb); total demand (CC BY4.0).TRADE FLOWS 2024Biggest rare earths trade routesMyanmar → China$818 mLaos → China$260 mMalaysia → China$194 mChina → Japan$125 mChina → United States$111 mHS 284690: Compounds of rare-earth metals, yttrium or scandium (excl. cerium). World trade $2.4 bn in 2024. Source:CEPII BACI (HS22).POLICYOn the critical listsUnited States (USGS): critical 2025European Union: strategic 2024United Kingdom (BGS): critical 2024Australia: critical 2024Canada: critical 2024United States (DOE): critical 2023India: critical 2023South Korea: strategic 2023China: strategic 2016EXPORT CONTROLSChina: licensing requirement from 2025. Source: OECD export restrictions inventory and government notices, asrecorded in our data.prospectortrails.comSources: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, CEPII BACI, IEA (CC BY 4.0), World Bank,government lists. Figures rounded.PROSPECTOR TRAILSOpen data, drawn in numbers
Rare earths infographic: world production, top producers, reserves, a century of output, producing countries on a map, demand by end use, trade routes, critical lists. Data year 2025.

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The numbers

The figures on the poster, with their sources. Production and reserves are USGS estimates, trade values are CEPII BACI customs data, demand is the IEA's outlook.

World mine production, 2025
390 kt (REO) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Largest producer
China, 270 kt (69% of world) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Top three producers' share
90% USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
World reserves, 2025
85 Mt (REO), largest in China USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Critical mineral lists
9 current lists in 8 jurisdictions (Australia, Canada, China, European Union, United Kingdom, India, South Korea, United States) government critical mineral lists
US net import reliance, 2025
67% USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Price, 2025
1.71 $/kg (Price, average, dollars per kilogram: Cerium oxide, 99.5% minimum) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
World production, 1900
1.0 kt (USGS historical series, as reported) USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics)
World production, 2020 (historical series)
243 kt USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics)
Largest end use, 2025
Other uses: 77% of 93 kt total demand IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026 (CC BY 4.0)
Demand outlook, IEA STEPS 2030
116 kt (+25% on 2025) IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026 (CC BY 4.0)
Largest trade flow, 2024
Myanmar → China, $818 m (HS 284690, Compounds of rare-earth metals, yttrium or scandium); world trade $2.4 bn CEPII BACI trade database
Export controls
China (licensing requirement)

Sources

USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics) · IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026 (CC BY 4.0) · CEPII BACI trade database · government critical mineral lists. Figures are rounded; country names follow our atlas.

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Rare earths storyWhere rare earths is minedCritical mineral listsAll infographics