The Rare Earths Ruse: Why Brazil's Reserves Won't Break China's Grip The news from Exposibram, Brazil's largest mining congress, serves as a sobering reminder that the country's vast reserves of rare earths won't be enough to loosen China's stranglehold on magnet production anytime soon.
According to Andre Luis Pimenta de Faria, coordinator of Senai's main magnet pilot plant, even with imported inputs, first batches of magnets wouldn't arrive until 2028 – and that's being optimistic.
Brazil, the world's second largest iron ore exporter, faces a stark reality: it can't produce electrolytic iron at home. This isn't a matter of resources; it's a question of infrastructure and commercial plants.