Executive summary

Challenge overview

Rare earth metals are a critical component in the manufacturing process of many electric vehicles, wind turbines, and consumer electronics such as mobile phones. Demand for rare earth metals has increased rapidly in the past twenty years, and is expected to increase five-fold by 2040.

China has historically dominated the global supply of rare earth elements, and is the largest producer of the manufactured products that require them.

However, many of China’s domestic mines have been shut down due to concerns over pollution, which raises the question: Where does China obtain its supply of rare earth elements?

Reported quantities of Chinese imports of rare earth minerals from Myanmar have increased substantially in recent years; In 2014, Myanmar exported just $1.5m of rare earths to China. By 2021, this sum had reached $740m. However, a six month investigation by Global Witness found a significant amount of illicit production and trade of these minerals in rebel-held areas along Myanmar’s north-eastern border with China.