The Aporia · France minerals envoy says rare earths diversification from China possible within 3-5 years

France’s top envoy for strategic metals claims that Western countries could significantly diversify their rare earths supply away from China within three to five years. Benjamin Gallezot, France’s Interministerial Delegate for Strategic Minerals and Metals Supply, made this statement on October 27 during a mining conference in Sydney. He cited ongoing expansion projects by companies such as Belgium’s Solvay and France’s Carester, along with initiatives in Australia, the US, Japan, Brazil, and India, as evidence of progress towards reducing dependence on China, which currently controls up to 90% of specialized rare earth magnet production.

Written by AI on 2026-10-28, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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France’s top envoy for strategic metals, Benjamin Gallezot, stated on October 27 that Western countries could achieve an acceptable level of rare earths diversification away from China within the next three to five years. This comes in response to Beijing's export curbs on permanent magnets in 2025, which disrupted industries such as automotive manufacturing and highlighted global dependence on Chinese supply. Projects led by companies like Belgium’s Solvay and France’s Carester, alongside others in Australia, the US, Japan, Brazil, and India, are developing quickly. Gallezot emphasized that accelerating these projects could lead to significant diversification of rare earths supplies, reducing reliance on China's 90% market share for some specialized magnets. Despite skepticism from investors and analysts about breaking China’s dominance due to required investment and technical expertise, Gallezot noted substantial progress has already been made in this limited market.

Written for “Rare Earth Diversification From China” on 2026-11-02, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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France minerals envoy says rare earths diversification from China possible within 3-5 years AI generated asserted

diversification → say → years

Western countries could achieve an acceptable level of rare earths diversification away from China within three to five years, France’s top envoy for strategic metals said on Oct 27. uncertain

envoy → achieve → Oct

Governments and manufacturers are racing to diversify supplies of metals vital to defence, technology and renewable energy and reduce dependence on China which accounts for as much as 90% of production of some specialised rare earth magnets. asserted

which → race → magnets

Beijing rattled global markets in 2025 when export curbs on permanent magnets disrupted industries, including the automotive sector, exposing their reliance on a single source. asserted

curbs → rattle → source

Some investors and analysts have questioned whether breaking China’s dominance is achievable, given the scale of investment and technical know-how required to produce the niche metals used in everything from cars and aircraft to electronics and weapons systems. asserted

breaking → question → electronics

“You don’t need hundreds of rare earths mines around the world to cover the supply. asserted

You → need → supply

It’s a limited market, it’s a limited quantity. asserted

it → ’ → ?

We have already made some progress,” said Benjamin Gallezot, France’s Interministerial Delegate for Strategic Minerals and Metals Supply. asserted

Gallezot → make → Minerals

Expansion projects led by Belgium’s Solvay and France’s Carester, plus others in Australia, the US, Japan, Brazil, and India are developing quickly, he said. “If you take all together, these projects, and you push to accelerate them, hopefully you can have a good diversification in the next three to five years,” he said, speaking on the sidelines of a mining conference in Sydney. asserted

he → lead → Sydney

While rare earths mines and refining projects were progressing, the amount of magnet manufacturing could still be a limiting factor, he said. uncertain

he → progress → manufacturing

“You don’t need a decade to solve this problem.” asserted

You → need → problem

Leaders of the Group of Seven nations agreed in June to step up coordination to cut their countries’ reliance on China for critical minerals. asserted

Leaders → agree → minerals

They aim to reduce dependence on any one supplier outside the G-7 and its partner countries for rare earths and permanent magnets to below 60% by 2030, with an ultimate goal of 50% “as soon as possible”. asserted

They → aim → %

“We can do much more,” Gallezot said. asserted

Gallezot → do → more

France minerals envoy says rare earths diversification from China possible within 3-5 years

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