Salient U.S. Rare Earth Statistics

This table presents key data on the production, imports, exports, and pricing of rare earth elements and compounds in the United States over the period from 2018 to 2022. These statistics are critical for understanding the domestic supply chain of rare earths, which are essential components in a wide range of high-tech applications including electronics, renewable energy technologies, defense systems, and advanced manufacturing. Monitoring these figures helps policymakers and industry stakeholders assess the country’s capacity to meet demand, reduce reliance on foreign sources, and support economic growth and national security.

Analysis of the data reveals a steady increase in U.S. production of rare-earth concentrates, rising from 14,000 metric tons in 2018 to 42,500 metric tons in 2022, more than tripling over five years. This growth is largely driven by output from bastnaesite-derived rare earths, which accounted for 42,500 metric tons in 2022. Cerium compounds production also doubled, reaching 703 metric tons in 2022, while other rare-earth compounds increased from 17,300 metric tons in 2018 to 45,200 metric tons in 2022. Notably, ferrocerium and pyrophoric alloys production surged to 1,520 metric tons in 2022, nearly doubling since 2018. Imports for consumption fluctuated, with other rare-earth compounds imports rising sharply from 4,370 metric tons in 2020 to 8,470 metric tons in 2022, indicating continued reliance on foreign sources for certain materials. Meanwhile, the price of monazite concentrate more than doubled from $4.30 per kilogram in 2021 to $8.40 in 2022, reflecting tightening supply or increased demand. Globally, world production of rare earth oxides grew from 190,000 metric tons in 2018 to 297,000 metric tons in 2022, underscoring the expanding scale of this critical mineral market.