Daybreak India said no to pollution. China took the rare earth crown
7 snips
Jun 5, 2025 India's dependence on China for rare earth magnets is highlighted, revealing the bureaucratic maze that importers must navigate. With China controlling 60-70% of the global market and imposing export restrictions, India's electric vehicle ambitions face significant hurdles. The discussion delves into the environmental costs of China's dominance, questioning sustainable practices in rare earth production. As India seeks self-reliance, the need for improved refining and recycling capabilities emerges as a crucial topic.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Industry Leaders Warn EV Halt
- TVS Motors' MD warned China's rare earth export restrictions could halt India's EV production.
- Bajaj Auto echoed concerns, predicting production disruptions as early as July 2023.
China's Rare Earth Dominance
- China controls 60-70% of global rare earth production and about 90% of the world's refining capacity.
- This dominance comes from a ruthless strategy sacrificing environment and people to own the green economy supply chain.
Refining: The Real Bottleneck
- Refining rare earth metals is chemically complex and extremely polluting.
- China succeeded because it invested decades building the intricate refining infrastructure others avoided.