| U.S. rare-earth concentrate output (REO) | 51,000 t and USD 240M | USGS MCS 2026 chapter, published 2026-02 | Shows domestic output scale but not full self-sufficiency for downstream NdFeB supply chains. | [S1] |
| U.S. imports of RE compounds/metals | +169% volume in 2025; value USD 165M vs USD 168M in 2024 | USGS MCS 2026 chapter, published 2026-02 | Procurement risk is driven by product mix and category shifts, not only by headline import value. | [S1] |
| World rare-earth production estimate | 390,000 t in 2025 | USGS MCS 2026 foreword (published 2026-02) | Global supply expanded, but growth does not remove concentration and policy-shock exposure. | [S3] |
| Heavy rare-earth net import reliance (U.S.) | 100% in 2025 (compounds and metals) | USGS MCS 2026 heavy rare earths chapter, published 2026-02 | High-temperature NdFeB lanes can inherit geopolitical and licensing risks through Dy/Tb exposure. | [S2] |
| Rare-earth demand change in STEPS | +50% to +60% by 2040 | IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025 | Even moderate scenario growth keeps pressure on magnet-material qualification and sourcing plans. | [S4] |
| China projected refining share (battery-grade graphite + rare earths) | Around 80% in 2035 | IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025 | Dual-lane sourcing should start before RFQ freeze for high-risk temperature classes. | [S4] |
| N-1 supply coverage for graphite + rare earths | Only 35% to 40% of N-1 demand in 2035 | IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025 | Single-country disruption can invalidate otherwise "balanced" supply assumptions. | [S4] |
| Salt spray as field-life predictor | Seldom correlates when used as stand-alone data | ASTM B117-26, last updated 2026-01-19 | Do not convert fog-test hours directly into service-life commitments without corroborating evidence. | [S10] |
| U.S. net import reliance (RE compounds/metals) | About 67% in 2025 (down from >90% in 2024) | USGS MCS 2026 Rare Earths chapter, published 2026-02 | Dependence improved versus 2024, but import exposure remains high enough to require dual-lane planning. | [S14] |
| U.S. apparent consumption (RE compounds/metals) | 27,000 t REO in 2025 vs 9,010 t in 2024 | USGS MCS 2026 Rare Earths chapter, published 2026-02 | Demand rebound can compress lead-time buffers if RFQ and validation gating are delayed. | [S14] |
| China share of U.S. RE imports by value | Average 71% (2021-2024) | USGS MCS 2026 Rare Earths chapter, published 2026-02 | Country concentration remains material for NdFeB programs even when domestic mine output increases. | [S14] |
| Rare-earth oxide price dispersion (2025, China market) | NdPr +25% ($55->69/kg), Tb +24% ($812->1,010/kg), Dy -7% ($257->239/kg) | USGS MCS 2026 Rare Earths + Heavy Rare Earths chapters | Do not treat heavy-RE exposure as one blended surcharge; element-specific terms are safer for contracts. | [S14][S15] |
| Chinese permanent-magnet exports | About 58,000 t in 2024 | IEA commentary on export controls, published 2025-12-04 | Short approval delays can rapidly affect downstream inventories when market dependence is high. | [S16] |
| EU strategic benchmark package (CRMA) | 2030 targets: 10% extraction, 40% processing, 25% recycling, <=65% single-country dependency | Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, effective 2024-05-23 | EU-facing RFQs should include origin traceability and recycling disclosure gates before final award. | [S12] |