90% of rare earth mineral refining is under China's control.

Omissions

• The MEP did not specify a year for this statistic. The most recent IEA data (2024) puts the figure at 91%, not exactly 90% — a minor difference within rounding tolerance.
• China's share of rare earth mining (approximately 60%) is significantly lower than its refining share, but the claim correctly focuses on refining (jalostus). The distinction between mining and refining is important context for understanding China's position in the supply chain.
• The IEA projects China's refining share will decline to approximately 76% by 2035 as other countries build domestic refining capacity.
• The 91% figure from IEA and related sources was published after the session date, though it describes 2024 data that existed before the claim was made.

Sources

• PrimaryInternational Energy Agency (IEA)In 2024, the People's Republic of China accounted for 60% of global mined production of magnet rare earths. For refining, China's dominance is far higher — its share of global rare earth refining was approximately 91% in 2024. China also accounted for 94% of sintered permanent magnet production.
• SecondaryFDI Intelligence (Financial Times)China still dominates in rare earth refining capacity, holding a 91 per cent share of global production in 2024, according to the IEA.
• SecondaryCheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)Almost 90% of global rare earths processing is now done in China, with the country producing 70 kilotons of refined rare earths in 2023.
• SecondaryYahoo FinanceChina controls 90% of rare-earth processing — now a $204 million U.S. investment in France aims to change that.