Materials(MP Materials)聯席主席James Litinsky在5月30日接受CNBC訪問時承認,其礦場開採的稀土需要運往中國加工,數量更多達每年5萬噸,更指出目前「除了中國,其他地區談不上擁有提煉稀土的產能」。(There’s no refining capacity in the world outside of China.)
China produces 90 percent of the world’s rare earth elements. About 1000 pounds of such materials are used to build a single F-35 jet. Were China to limit their export to the US, it could have devastating consequences to the US military.