Rare earths play a central role in the production of batteries, semiconductors and permanent magnets for electric motors – technologies that are fundamental to both electric cars and wind turbines. Yet the EU imports almost half of its needs for these materials from China. This is according to the German Spiegel.
In 2024, 46.3 percent of the EU's total imports of rare earths came from China. For Germany, the share was even higher at 65.5 percent. Among the most important compounds was lanthanum, which is used in batteries and accounted for over three quarters of Germany's total imports. In addition, metals such as neodymium, praseodymium and samarium, which are used in magnets for electric motors and wind turbine generators, were almost exclusively imported from China.
Although Austria and Estonia are major suppliers to Germany, the raw materials do not necessarily originate there. The two countries mainly function as processing centres, and the original origin cannot be traced statistically.
China's recent export restrictions on rare earths – a response to US tariff increases – highlight European vulnerability. At the same time, the EU's own mining capabilities are very limited. This makes the region dependent on a supplier who also uses the raw materials as a means of political and economic pressure.
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