Rare Earth Elements: The 17 Elements Powering Advanced Technology

From the permanent magnets inside electric vehicles to the phosphors lighting your screen, rare earth elements are the invisible backbone of twenty-first-century innovation. Understanding their supply chains, processing challenges, and market dynamics is essential for investors, policymakers, and engineers alike.

Why Rare Earth Elements Matter

Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 metallic elements comprising the 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium. Despite their name, most rare earths are not particularly scarce in the Earth's crust. What makes them strategically critical is the extreme difficulty of separating them from one another and the near-total concentration of processing capacity in China. These elements possess unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties that cannot be replicated by any other materials, making them indispensable to technologies ranging from smartphones to stealth fighter jets.

Global demand for rare earth elements has surged dramatically since 2020, driven primarily by the explosive growth of electric vehicles, offshore wind turbines, and advanced defense platforms. Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets alone account for roughly 38 percent of total rare earth consumption by value, and this share continues to climb as the energy transition accelerates. The International Energy Agency projects that rare earth demand for clean energy technologies could increase by a factor of seven by 2040 under a net-zero scenario.

This section of the Critical and Strategic Metals Hub provides a comprehensive resource covering every aspect of rare earth elements. Whether you are researching investment opportunities, evaluating supply chain risks, or studying the science behind these remarkable metals, the guides below will give you the depth of understanding you need.

Explore Rare Earth Elements

What Are Rare Earths?

A comprehensive introduction to the 17 rare earth elements, their discovery, why they are called 'rare,' and their essential role in modern technology.

Light vs Heavy Rare Earths

Understand the critical distinction between light rare earth elements (LREEs) and heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), their different applications, and supply dynamics.

Magnet Rare Earths

Deep dive into neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium — the four elements driving the permanent magnet revolution in EVs and wind energy.

Separation & Processing

How rare earth ores are mined, cracked, and separated using solvent extraction and ion exchange — and why China dominates this critical stage.

Recycling

The current state of rare earth recycling, emerging technologies, economic barriers, and the potential for urban mining to reshape supply chains.

Price & Market Structure

How rare earth elements are priced, the role of Chinese state-owned enterprises, export controls, and what drives price volatility in this opaque market.

Rare Earth Elements List

Complete reference table of all 17 rare earth elements with atomic numbers, properties, primary applications, and global supply data.

Strategic Importance at a Glance

  • Market Size: The global rare earth elements market was valued at approximately $5.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed $12 billion by 2032.
  • Dominant Producer: China accounts for roughly 60 percent of global mine production and over 85 percent of all rare earth processing and separation capacity.
  • Key Demand Driver: NdFeB permanent magnets for electric vehicle motors and direct-drive wind turbines represent the fastest-growing end use.
  • Supply Risk: Rare earths consistently rank among the most supply-critical materials in assessments by the U.S. Geological Survey, European Commission, and other agencies.