<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rare earths and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-and-us-rare-earths-deal-why-critical-minerals-are-so-vital-explained/c8ccd0ac-b0a1-467b-bdd3-ee35823d6d92" rel="" target="" title="critical minerals"><span>critical minerals</span></a><span> have become impossible to escape in global politics and trade discussions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Behind the diplomatic meetings and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/politics" rel="" target="" title="trade tensions"><span>trade tensions</span></a><span> is a group of chemical elements essential for modern technology.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But what actually are rare earths, and why does Australia matter so much in the conversation?</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-and-us-rare-earths-deal-why-critical-minerals-are-so-vital-explained/c8ccd0ac-b0a1-467b-bdd3-ee35823d6d92" rel="" target="" title="Why the Australia-US rare earths deal matters so much for Trump"><strong><span>Why the Australia-US rare earths deal matters so much for Trump</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What exactly are rare earths?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rare earths are a group of 17 metallic elements found in the Earth's crust.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They sit within a broader category known as critical minerals, which also includes lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/rare-earths-critical-minerals-global-politics-trade-japan-australia-anthony-albanese-mining-modern-technology/4433ae9d-8bd5-4368-bef1-c6de6a859871" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Governments classify minerals as "critical" when they are vital to major industries, infrastructure, manufacturing, and national security.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>CEO of Australian mining technology company MaxMine Shaun Mitchell said the term "rare earths" was slightly misleading, as they're not especially scarce.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Their value lies in how they're extracted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/china-tightens-rare-earths-export-controls/c85e3cd0-ffa5-49db-80a0-fed2ad942d44" rel="" target="" title="Tighter Chinese curbs on rare earth exports could open door for Australia"><strong><span>Tighter Chinese curbs on rare earth exports could open door for Australia</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The refining process is highly specialised. If proper environmental protections aren't in place, it can create toxic waste and radioactive by-products.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mitchell said the process also requires enormous upfront investment, infrastructure, energy and technical expertise.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The bottleneck isn't simply geology, it's whether you can produce these minerals reliably, competitively and at scale," he said</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What do they do?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Put simply, modern technology relies on rare earths.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They're used in smartphones, laptops, electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, MRI machines, speakers and advanced military equipment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Certain rare earths are essential for the powerful magnets used in electric vehicles and renewable energy systems, while others are used in oil refining, medical devices and television screens.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As governments ramp up investment in clean energy, defence, and advanced manufacturing, reliable access to these minerals is paramount.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Why does China dominate the industry?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>China is the world's largest producer of rare earths and accounts for over 90 per cent of global refining capacity, where raw minerals are processed into materials manufacturers can use.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Even minerals mined elsewhere are often sent there for processing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This complicates things for governments, including the United States, Japan and members of the European Union, particularly as tensions with Beijing simmer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>These materials have already been featured in trade disputes between China and the United States, including export restrictions and tariff retaliation, driving countries to find new sources.</span></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/sE76rC1m0rc0nA6iY6_r_495Oz0=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2025%2F10%2F728055%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mitchell said China's position was built over decades of investment in mining, refining, infrastructure, and industrial policy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Processing is technically complex, capital-intensive and environmentally challenging.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"China invested early and consistently, while much of the West stepped away from that capability."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In October 2025, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2026-what-to-expect-signficant-changes-announcements-explainer/94106a49-6102-447d-bb6a-53aabc1d4a5f" rel="" target="" title="Prime Minister Anthony Albanese"><span>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese</span></a><span> and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-may-8-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/364555ec-fcc9-4c31-8ee2-7a04b8ca2adf" rel="" target="" title="US President Donald Trump"><span>US President Donald Trump</span></a><span> signed a $US8.5 billion agreement on critical minerals and rare earths, in a bid to stamp out China's monopoly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Why is Australia so important?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia is home to major reserves of lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earths, alongside a lucrative mining sector and strong trade relationships across Asia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This has put the country in a powerful position, as governments seek a reliable supply beyond China.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier this month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi penned an expanded partnership on critical minerals to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Several projects were spruiked under the agreement, including rare-earth, nickel, and cobalt developments across Western Australia and NSW.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Japan is seeking stable access to materials needed for advanced manufacturing and energy technology, while Australia is attempting to expand its role in processing and manufacturing rather than remaining primarily an exporter of raw materials.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Why should I care?</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia's rare earths and critical minerals are central to national conversations about jobs, energy, trade, and security.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It allows Australia to do more than export raw materials, with governments and industry pushing for more local refining and processing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If that succeeds, it could bring new investment into regional communities and help build industries around the resources Australia already has.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, the race for supply also invites environmental concerns.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rare earth mining and refining can produce toxic waste and radioactive byproducts if poorly managed, while operations in countries including Myanmar have been linked to environmental damage and conflict zones.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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