Magnets, Missiles, & Mobility: Why Rare Earths Are The World’s Hottest Commodity​on October 21, 2025 at 9:37 am

China currently processes nearly 90% of the world’s rare earths, despite holding just over a third of global reserves. Its dominance, built over decades through state-backed investment and tight control of processing technologies, has become one of the world’s biggest strategic chokepoints. China currently processes nearly 90% of the world’s rare earths, despite holding just over a third of global reserves. Its dominance, built over decades through state-backed investment and tight control of processing technologies, has become one of the world’s biggest strategic chokepoints.