Neodymium powers the magnets in EV motors and wind turbines. What it is, who mines it, and why China dominates refining.
Last updated: October 2026
Neodymium is a silvery-white light rare-earth metal, the key ingredient in neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets: the strongest permanent magnets known. It is mined from bastnaesite and monazite ores, usually alongside praseodymium. China dominates the refining chain and most magnet production, which makes neodymium the most strategically consequential rare earth.
| # | 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.
Neodymium is a silvery-white light rare-earth metal, the key ingredient in neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets: the strongest permanent magnets known. It is mined from bastnaesite and monazite ores, usually alongside praseodymium, and in practice is sold and used together with praseodymium as NdPr oxide.
NdFeB permanent magnets for EV traction motors, wind-turbine generators, headphones, hard-disk drives, MRI machines and defence systems (precision guidance, actuators). Also glass colouring, lasers and catalysts.
China, with about 69% of world rare-earth mine production (270,000 t of about 390,000 t REO in 2025, USGS). The United States mines rare earths at Mountain Pass (51,000 t) but ships much of its output abroad for separation. Australia's Lynas (29,000 t) is the largest non-Chinese separated producer.
For rare earths overall, China accounts for about 69% of mine production (USGS) and up to about 91% of refining and separation (IEA). Magnet production is more concentrated still: roughly 91% of refined magnet output and 94% of sintered permanent magnet production (industry estimates).
Extreme. NdFeB magnets are irreplaceable in EV motors and wind turbines at scale. China controls the refining chain and most magnet production. US rare-earth import reliance is 100% for compounds and metals. Any licensing slowdown on magnet rare earths reaches EV and wind-turbine production directly.
Neodymium is the key ingredient in NdFeB permanent magnets, the strongest known. China accounts for about 69% of rare-earth mine production and up to about 91% of refining. Every EV motor and wind turbine depends on neodymium magnets, which makes it the most strategically consequential rare earth.
Neodymium is a silvery-white light rare-earth metal, the key ingredient in neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets: the strongest permanent magnets known. It is mined from bastnaesite and monazite ores, usually alongside praseodymium, and in practice is sold and used together with praseodymium as NdPr oxide.
NdFeB permanent magnets for EV traction motors, wind-turbine generators, headphones, hard-disk drives, MRI machines and defence systems (precision guidance, actuators). Also glass colouring, lasers and catalysts.
China, with about 69% of world rare-earth mine production (270,000 t of about 390,000 t REO in 2025, USGS). The United States mines rare earths at Mountain Pass (51,000 t) but ships much of its output abroad for separation. Australia's Lynas (29,000 t) is the largest non-Chinese separated producer.
