
China’s Rare Earth Dominance: It’s Not the Reserves, It’s the Processing
China’s rare earth dominance is built on processing, not geology. An in-depth look at reserves, refining control, export policy, and operational risks to…
12 mars 2026
Anna K.Country Intelligence
Russia stands out in this dataset through upstream production exposure, processing and refining capacity, and named industrial and corporate presence, with its strongest relevance showing up in Vanadium, Germanium, and Cobalt.
This country matters first as an upstream source of material supply, where production concentration can shape pricing power and availability.
Strategic Read
Russia matters because upstream supply concentration still drives pricing power, availability, and procurement risk across multiple materials.
Policy events
1
Materials covered
10
Leading materials
Why Russia matters
Primary read
Producer base
Why it matters
Russia matters because upstream supply concentration still drives pricing power, availability, and procurement risk across multiple materials.
What to watch
Watch policy changes, permitting, and trade rules alongside any shift in Vanadium exposure.
Coverage signals
Materials covered
10
Linked policy events
1
Refining appearances
5
Named companies
3
These are dataset signals showing how often Russia appears across strategic materials research, not official reserve or production totals.
Mining / upstream supply
Very High
10
Refining / processing
Very High
5
Policy leverage
Low
1
Industrial presence
Moderate
3
Where Russia appears in the dataset
Integrated upstream and refining presence
Vanadium matters here because of producer signal: 20-25% (~20,000-25,000 tonnes), refining share: 22% (19,000 (new Tula facility V2O5/year)), 1 named player, and appears in chokepoint analysis.
Producer signal
20-25% (~20,000-25,000 tonnes)
Refining share
22% · 19,000 (new Tula facility V2O5/year)
Integrated upstream and refining presence
Germanium matters here because of producer signal: JSC Germanium (~20 t/yr), refining share: 4% (~50), 1 named player, and appears in chokepoint analysis.
Producer signal
JSC Germanium (~20 t/yr)
Refining share
4% · ~50
Integrated upstream and refining presence
Cobalt matters here because of producer signal: 3% (8,700 tonnes), refining share: 3% (7,000), and 1 named player.
Producer signal
3% (8,700 tonnes)
Refining share
3% · 7,000
Integrated upstream and refining presence
Selenium matters here because of producer signal: ~10% (~340-360 t) and refining share: 10% (~340-360).
Producer signal
~10% (~340-360 t)
Refining share
10% · ~340-360
Upstream production relevance
Gold matters here because of producer signal: ~310 t and appears in chokepoint analysis.
Producer signal
~310 t
Integrated upstream and refining presence
Gallium matters here because of producer signal: <1% (refining) and refining share: 0.2%.
Producer signal
<1% (refining)
Refining share
0.2%
Upstream production relevance
Nickel matters here because of producer signal: 7% (256k tonnes).
Producer signal
7% (256k tonnes)
Upstream production relevance
Niobium matters here because of producer signal: ~0.5% (~440 tonnes).
Producer signal
~0.5% (~440 tonnes)
Upstream production relevance
Platinum matters here because of producer signal: 11% (18 tonnes).
Producer signal
11% (18 tonnes)
Upstream production relevance
Tungsten matters here because of producer signal: 2.5% (2,000 tonnes).
Producer signal
2.5% (2,000 tonnes)
Industrial footprint by material
| Material | Roles | Producer signal | Refining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanadium | Producer, Source, Refiner, Key Player, Chokepoint | 20-25% (~20,000-25,000 tonnes) | 22% · 19,000 (new Tula facility V2O5/year) |
| Germanium | Producer, Source, Refiner, Key Player, Chokepoint | JSC Germanium (~20 t/yr) | 4% · ~50 |
| Cobalt | Producer, Source, Refiner, Key Player | 3% (8,700 tonnes) | 3% · 7,000 |
| Selenium | Producer, Source, Refiner | ~10% (~340-360 t) | 10% · ~340-360 |
| Gold | Producer, Source, Chokepoint | ~310 t | N/A |
| Gallium | Producer, Refiner | <1% (refining) | 0.2% |
| Nickel | Producer, Source | 7% (256k tonnes) | N/A |
| Niobium | Producer, Source | ~0.5% (~440 tonnes) | N/A |
| Platinum | Producer, Source | 11% (18 tonnes) | N/A |
| Tungsten | Producer, Source | 2.5% (2,000 tonnes) | N/A |
Companies and industrial actors linked to Russia
Russia
Cobalt byproduct from Norilsk Ni-Cu operations
Russia
~20 t/yr production; sanctions risk affects Western access
Russia
Kachkanar (world's largest titaniferous magnetite deposit). Investing $260M in new Tula region facility (19,000 t V2O5/year capacity).
Relevant policy and regulation
Nov 2024
China · Bushveld Minerals (South Africa)
Key non-China/Russia primary vanadium producer enters bankruptcy proceedings, reducing Western supply diversity and tightening the non-aligned supply base.
Chokepoints and concentration notes
Germanium: Russia ~20 t/yr — sanctions risk
Gold: Russia 9% mining — sanctions risk
Vanadium: China + Russia = ~85% of primary vanadium mining
Related Analysis

China’s rare earth dominance is built on processing, not geology. An in-depth look at reserves, refining control, export policy, and operational risks to…
12 mars 2026
Anna K.
The US holds 1.9M MT of rare earth reserves but relies on foreign processing. Analysis of the reserve-to-production gap, Mountain Pass, MP Materials, and…
12 mars 2026
Anna K.
Which 12 materials are most exposed to China’s 2026 export controls? Data-led ranking of risks, quotas and real supply options for industry.
27 février 2026
Anna K.