Dysprosium keeps EV magnets working at high heat. What it is, why supply is nearly all Chinese, and what controls changed.
Last updated: October 2026
Dysprosium is a silvery heavy rare-earth metal, added in small amounts to NdFeB magnets to preserve their magnetism at high temperatures. It comes mainly from ion-adsorption clays in southern China and Myanmar, plus smaller sources elsewhere. China controls the overwhelming majority of heavy-REE separation, and its April 2025 export controls cut shipments by about half.
| # | Country | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 69% - 270,000 t REO (2025) |
| 2 | United States | 13% - 51,000 t |
| 3 | Australia | 7% - 29,000 t |
| 4 | Myanmar | 6% - 22,000 t (heavy-REE clays) |
| 5 | Thailand | 4,800 t |
| 6 | Madagascar | 2,700 t |
| 7 | India | 2,900 t |
| 8 | Russia | 2,600 t |
| 9 | Brazil | 2,000 t |
| 10 | Nigeria | 1,500 t |
Total rare-earth mine production, all elements combined, 2025 (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026). USGS does not publish per-element production shares. Dysprosium specifically comes overwhelmingly from Chinese ionic clays and Myanmar clays processed in China; USGS does not publish a per-element share.
Dysprosium is a silvery heavy rare-earth metal, added in small amounts to NdFeB magnets to preserve their magnetism at high temperatures. It comes mainly from ion-adsorption clays in southern China and Myanmar, plus smaller sources elsewhere. Without dysprosium, EV motors and wind turbines lose performance as they heat up.
High-temperature NdFeB magnets (EV motors, wind turbines), nuclear reactor control rods, lasers and data storage.
China, which controls the overwhelming majority of heavy-REE separation capacity. Myanmar's clay output (22,000 t REO in 2025) is the key non-Chinese feedstock, but it is processed in China. Per-element dysprosium shares are not published.
Near-total for separation. USGS does not publish a per-element dysprosium share, but China controls the overwhelming majority of heavy-REE separation capacity, and Myanmar's clay output is processed in China. Beijing applied export controls to dysprosium in April 2025.
Extreme. China applied export controls to dysprosium in April 2025. Shipments fell roughly 50% from baseline levels in the months that followed. Japan, the largest rare-earth magnet producer outside China, received just 4% of its normal dysprosium supply after the controls took effect; Germany received none. The United States is 100% import-reliant.
Dysprosium is a heavy rare earth that keeps EV magnets working at high heat. China controls the overwhelming majority of heavy-REE separation. Its April 2025 export controls cut shipments by about half, with Japan receiving just 4% of its normal supply and Germany none.
Dysprosium is a silvery heavy rare-earth metal, added in small amounts to NdFeB magnets to preserve their magnetism at high temperatures. It comes mainly from ion-adsorption clays in southern China and Myanmar, plus smaller sources elsewhere. Without dysprosium, EV motors and wind turbines lose performance as they heat up.
High-temperature NdFeB magnets (EV motors, wind turbines), nuclear reactor control rods, lasers and data storage.
China, which controls the overwhelming majority of heavy-REE separation capacity. Myanmar's clay output (22,000 t REO in 2025) is the key non-Chinese feedstock, but it is processed in China. Per-element dysprosium shares are not published.
