It’s rare, it’s revered, it’s relevant: What’s the big deal about rare earths?

Rare earth elements (REEs) are crucial in the manufacturing of a vast range of electronic products, owing to their magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties. China holds a near-monopoly on the global supply chain for rare earths, controlling a significant portion of mining, and crucially, over 90% of the world's processing and magnet production capacity.

This gives Beijing immense leverage and one that can lead to Indian manufacturers facing severe supply chain disruptions, if supply to these critical materials is restricted or halted. ET's Suraksha P decodes the nitty-gritties of the supply chain and what makes these materials so critical to India's manufacturing success.