Rare Earths Crisis: China’s Monopoly Is a Wake-Up Call for The West

Wealthion - Be Financially Resilient · May 5, 2025 · 50m

China sets the price, and the West scrambles to keep up. In this insightful interview, Justin Chan, Head of Research at SCP Resource Finance, sits down with Trey Reik to explain why 90 % of heavy rare earths are still processed in China, how that gives Beijing pricing power over EVs, wind turbines, and defense tech, and why even top-tier mining projects are barely breaking even. Key Topics: • China’s supply-chain chokehold: 70 % of light Rare Earths, 90 %+ of heavy Rare Earths • Price suppression playbook: how Beijing keeps rivals on the back foot • Mining’s brutal math: 4,000 junior miners…