36 Elements with Over 50% Share Controlled by a Single Country
China Holds 30 of Them, Using Them as "Political Weapons"
There are 118 elements that exist on Earth. Among these, China accounts for more than 50% of global production for 30 elements, which is a quarter of the total.
According to a report by Japan’s Nikkei newspaper on August 10, citing data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), out of the 118 elements, the production share by country can be determined for 65 elements. Of these, for 36 elements?including 33 rare metals?one country held a majority share last year.
In particular, China held a majority share for 30 out of the 36 elements for which a single country controlled over 50% of production. For indium, used in liquid crystal displays, and bismuth, an ingredient in stomach medicine, China’s share of refined products exceeded 70%.
Nikkei pointed out that China has used its restriction of rare earth element exports as a countermeasure against U.S. tariffs, leading some American and Japanese automakers to halt production. The newspaper stated, “The Chinese government is using metals and minerals, for which it controls production, as political bargaining chips.”
Meanwhile, Japan plans to begin trial mining in January next year in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Minamitorishima in the Ogasawara Islands, in an effort to secure rare earth elements and other rare elements. Sumitomo Metal Mining plans to complete a commercial plant for recycling lithium-ion batteries by June next year. Nissan Motor and Waseda University are conducting experiments to extract neodymium from hybrid and electric vehicles. Nikkei recommended, “For Japan to secure a stable supply of rare metals, it must establish a system to retain resources domestically and refine its technology.”
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