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The rare earth element neodymium
Image: Frank Rumpenhorst/picture allianceImage: Frank Rumpenhorst/picture alliance

Rare earth elements

Rare earth elements are both hard to find and vital for the production of smart technology and renewable energy including smartphones, solar panels, electric vehicles, robotics, drones and batteries.

Skip next section Reports & Analysis

Reports & Analysis

Schools of fish and dolphins pass by a reef

Deep-sea metals: Vital resource or environmental disaster?

Deep-sea metals: Vital resource or environmental disaster?

Mining the valuable metals and rare earths found in the ocean floor could permanently damage fragile marine systems.
Nature and EnvironmentAugust 2, 2024
Leopard tank firing in Donetsk, Ukraine

Ukraine's war is a battle for trillions in resources

Ukraine's war is a battle for trillions in resources

Ukraine has huge deposits of lithium, a key mineral for expanding fields like electric car batteries.
ConflictsJuly 4, 202401:41 min
Lithium Hydroxid Tanks at the Bitterfeld-Wolfen industrial park

Can Europe secure its own critical raw materials?

Can Europe secure its own critical raw materials?

The EU is looking to diversify its minerals' supply away from China. But can it source enough of it at a decent price?
GlobalizationMay 22, 2024
DW Made in Germany | Sendung vom 17. April 2024 | MADERareEarth

Rare earths found in Sweden: a game-changer?

Rare earths found in Sweden: a game-changer?

Sweden has huge deposits of rare earths. Could the discovery reduce Europe’s dependence on China?
BusinessApril 17, 202405:59 min
Magazin Global Us vom 15.04.2024 | Neodym

Neodymium: The metal driving the energy transition

Neodymium: The metal driving the energy transition

China is world leader when it comes to mining neodymium - a metal in high demand worldwide.
Nature and EnvironmentApril 15, 202407:16 min
A WV employee monitors the production of electric car batteries, in Salzitter, Germany, on September 23, 2019

Will Germany face a rare earths shortage?

Will Germany face a rare earths shortage?

The raw materials needed for the green transition are in the hands of rivals, including China and Russia.
TradeMarch 11, 2024
Skip next section In the spotlight

In the spotlight

Jelly fish in the ocean

Deep-sea mining: Climate action with environmental costs

Mining companies are looking to the ocean floor to extract rare earths and metals. What are the risks?
Nature and EnvironmentJanuary 10, 2024
A person shoveling white lithium carbonate inside a salt recovery pool at the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia

Russia, China ahead in race for Bolivia's lithium

By wooing Bolivia, Russia, like China, has gained access to one of the world's largest lithium reserves.
BusinessDecember 29, 2023
A worker is seen at Krivoi Rog steelworks

Russia plundering Ukraine's natural resources

Russia is keen to exploit Ukraine's highly valuable natural resources, such as iron ore and coal.
ConflictsAugust 28, 2023
Factory buildings in the snow

Rare earths find in Sweden: A game changer?

A big find of raw materials critical for green technology has been announced in Sweden. Is it a game changer?
BusinessJanuary 13, 2023
Ulf Kristersson and Jessika Roswall stand before the Swedish and EU flags

Swedish EU presidency at mercy of euroskeptics

Sweden has pledged to "make Europe greener, safer, freer" during its six-month presidency.
PoliticsJanuary 12, 2023
Trucks with rare earth at the Port of Lianyungang in China

Climate policies need to focus on raw materials

EU institutions are trying to reverse underinvestment in raw materials, but issues remain.
BusinessNovember 29, 2021
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