The Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Geological Survey and Mining Management Agency plans to visit Texas, Wyoming and California in the second half of this year to assess sources of rare earths, as Taiwan seeks supply sources other than China.
The planned US visit would assess local mine conditions, ore veins and grade levels, and the findings would help determine whether they meet Taiwan’s industrial needs and are suitable for future investment, agency Director-General Hsu Ming-hong (徐銘宏) told a news conference in Taipei.
Global rare earths production totals about 390,000 tonnes a year, of which China accounted for about 270,000 tonnes, Hsu said, citing a global survey that was conducted in 2024.
Photo: Reuters
Beyond China, the US produced about 42,000 tonnes, Myanmar supplied 31,000 tonnes, Australia 16,000 tonnes and Canada 5,000 tonnes, he said, adding that global supply remains relatively concentrated.
US production consists mainly of light rare earths, whereas Taiwan’s industrial demand is more aligned with heavy rare earths, Hsu said.
Light rare earths typically have higher concentrations in ore deposits — about 2 percent to more than 10 percent — while concentrations in heavy rare earths can be as low as 0.1 percent or even 0.01 percent, he said.
Heavy rare earths are more heat-resistant and stable, making them suitable for use in defense, aerospace and certain semiconductor technologies, and therefore of greater strategic importance, he added.
As many overseas mines are still in the planning or assessment stage and have yet to enter full development or operations, the agency’s priority is to gather first-hand data, Hsu said.
Taiwan would be seeking potential multilateral collaboration with the US, Japan and Australia for supplies of rare earths, he said.
Taiwan and the US last month concluded the sixth Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue, during which both sides pledged to deepen cooperation in areas including critical minerals.
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