U.S. Imports For Consumption Of Rare-Earth Compounds, By Country Or Locality

This table presents detailed data on the quantities and values of rare-earth compounds imported into the United States, categorized by country or locality of origin. These compounds are critical components in a wide range of high-technology and industrial applications, including electronics, renewable energy technologies, defense systems, and automotive manufacturing. Tracking import volumes and sources provides insight into the supply chain dynamics and economic dependencies of the U.S. on foreign producers of these strategically important materials, which can influence trade policies and domestic resource planning.

Analysis of the 2021 and 2022 data reveals several notable trends. Overall imports increased from 12 million kilograms valued at $133 million in 2021 to 16.5 million kilograms valued at $184 million in 2022, indicating growing demand. China remains the dominant supplier across most categories, with imports of unspecified compounds or mixtures rising significantly from 5.1 million kilograms ($56.4 million) in 2021 to 8 million kilograms ($92 million) in 2022. Imports of lanthanum oxides from China nearly tripled in weight, from 429,000 to 1.11 million kilograms, and their value more than doubled to $3.37 million. Conversely, Estonia’s imports of cerium compounds other than cerium oxide decreased from 552,000 to 463,000 kilograms. Malaysia showed strong growth in several categories, such as cerium compounds other than cerium oxide, which increased from 112,000 to 304,000 kilograms. The total estimated rare-earth-oxide equivalent content also rose from 7.69 million kilograms in 2021 to 10.7 million kilograms in 2022, underscoring an overall expansion in rare-earth compound consumption by U.S. industries.

TABLE 6
U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF RARE-EARTH COMPOUNDS, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY¹

		2021				2022
		Gross weight				Gross weight
Category and country or locality	HTS code2	(kilograms)		Value		(kilograms)	Value
Compounds:
Cerium compounds:
Cerium oxides:	2846.10.0010
China		334000		1990000		209000	1700000
Japan		523000		19000000		567000	18500000
Other		32300		991000		55900	1580000
Total		889000		22000000		831000	21800000
Total estimated rare-earth-oxide (REO) equivalent content		889000		XX		831000	XX
Cerium compounds, other than cerium oxide:	2846.10.0050
China		1230000		2150000		1290000	2640000
Estonia		552000		1260000		463000	1060000
Malaysia		112000		145000		304000	604000
Other		106000	r	2200000	r	72900	1380000
Total		2000000		5750000		2130000	5680000
Total estimated REO equivalent content		1340000		XX		1430000	XX
Total, cerium compounds		2890000		27800000		2960000	27500000
Total estimated REO equivalent content		2230000		XX		2260000	XX
Other rare-earth compounds:
Carbonates:
Lanthanum carbonates mixtures:	2846.90.8070
China		90500		120000		134000	764000
Estonia		36400		200000		--	--
Malaysia		40700		244000		--	--
Other		7		10200		1460	416000
Total		168000		575000		136000	1180000
Total estimated REO equivalent content		115000		XX		93000	XX
Other rare-earth carbonates mixtures:	2846.90.8075
China		1600		106000		3200	285000
Russia		--		--		1290	190000
Other		1	r	2440	r	320	34200
Total		1600		108000		4810	510000
Total estimated REO equivalent content		882.2		XX		2640	XX
Chlorides:
Scandium or yttrium chloride mixtures, Russia	2846.90.2082	35		39000		--	--
Total estimated REO equivalent content		12.95		XX		--	XX
Unspecified mixtures of oxides or chlorides:	2846.90.2084
China		408000		2480000		281000	3720000
Other		10400		373000		8010	536000
Total		419000		2850000		289000	4260000
Total estimated REO equivalent content		193000		XX		133000	XX
Oxides:
Lanthanum oxides:	2846.90.2005
China		429000		1510000		1110000	3370000
Malaysia		319000		1560000		812000	2360000
Other		59400		1210000		45500	4260000
Total		808000		4280000		1970000	10000000
Total estimated REO equivalent content		808000		XX		1970000	XX
Scandium or yttrium oxides:	2846.90.2015
China		23600		284000		56000	924000
France		301		18700		10700	829000
Germany		60		15000		7260	210000
Korea, Republic of		4880		1070000		3940	876000
Netherlands		--		--		14000	161000
Other		4820	r	1200000	r	2640	781000
Total		33600		2590000		94500	3780000
Total estimated REO equivalent content		33600		XX		94500	XX
Other oxides:	2846.90.2040
China		103000		6070000	r	148000	7590000
Netherlands		25700		793000		1000	171000
Other		12400	r	1210000	r	5800	949000
Total		141000		8080000	r	155000	8710000
Total estimated REO equivalent content		141000		XX		155000	XX
Other rare-earth compounds or mixtures:
Unspecified compounds or mixtures:	2846.90.8090
China		5100000		56400000		8020000	92000000
Malaysia		1310000		2480000		1400000	3680000
Other		762000	r	24600000	r	578000	26300000
Total		7170000	r	83500000		9990000	122000000
Total estimated REO equivalent content		3950000		XX		5500000	XX
Yttrium materials and compounds content by weight	2846.90.4000
greater than 19% but less than 85% oxide equivalent:
China		312000		1290000		872000	5710000
Other		56100		2060000		3240	762000
Total		368000		3350000		876000	6470000
Total estimated REO equivalent content		221000		XX		525000	XX
Total, other rare-earth compounds		9110000		105000000		13500000	157000000
Total estimated REO equivalent content		5460000		XX		8470000	XX
Grand total		12000000		133000000		16500000	184000000
Grand total estimated REO equivalent content		7690000		XX		10700000	XX

^rRevised. XX Not applicable. -- Zero.

¹Table includes data available through July 14, 2023. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

²Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States code.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.