Paris – President Donald Trump’s administration is hosting a major meeting Wednesday with European Union ministers and officials from other countries to discuss critical minerals.
These minerals include cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, lithium—and a special group called rare earths. Rare earths are 17 metallic elements essential to many high-tech devices, and China dominates their production.
Among these, four elements—neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium—account for most of the sector’s economic value. Global production of rare earths jumped from 220,000 tonnes in 2019 to 390,000 tonnes in 2024, a 77% increase over five years, according to French research group Cercle CyclOpe.
Magnets for wind turbines
These four “magnetic” rare earths are mainly used to make permanent magnets, like neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which are about 10 times more powerful than standard magnets. Using these elements boosts magnet performance while keeping them small and light. A single offshore wind turbine can contain up to one tonne of these rare earths.
Fighter jets and sports gear
The aviation industry is another major user. For example, Lockheed Martin relies heavily on samarium to make magnets that withstand extreme heat. Each F-35 fighter jet needs over 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of rare earths.
Other elements, like scandium, are used in lightweight aluminum alloys for planes—and also in high-end sports equipment such as golf clubs, bicycles, and baseball bats.
Smartphones
Every smartphone contains a small amount of rare earths—about three grams per device. With 1.24 billion phones sold worldwide in 2024, that adds up to more than 3,700 tonnes of rare earths. They help screens perform better and even enable the phone to vibrate.
Electric and fuel-powered vehicles
Hybrid and electric car motors use between 1.2 and 3.5 kilograms of rare earths each. They also power small motors, like those that fold a car’s side mirrors automatically. Combustion-engine vehicles rely on rare earths too, especially in catalytic converters. Lanthanum and cerium help reduce fine particle emissions.
Oil, glass, and lasers
Rare earths are also used in oil refining, glass polishing, and even cigarette lighter flints. Erbium has medical uses in dentistry, dermatology, and ophthalmology. Both erbium and neodymium are key for making lasers used in industrial cutting and engraving. By combining different rare earths, manufacturers can change the laser’s wavelength, color, and purpose—creating effects for industrial applications or even colorful light shows.
