Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called “rare earth metals”. Why? 1. China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export 2. Other than China, Australia, Canada and Chile, these elements are not found in any country. 3. Rare earth metals are essential for the manufacture of various kinds of electronic items and there is a growing demand for these elements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Rare earth metals are critical for modern technology, including smartphones, electric vehicles, and military hardware, leading to a surge in global demand [1]. China is the world's dominant producer, accounting for approximately 60-90% of global production and processing [1]. In recent years, China has imposed export restrictions and quotas on these elements, citing national security and environmental protection, which has caused significant global supply concerns. While China holds the largest reserves, rare earth elements are not limited to only four countries; they are found in significant deposits in the United States, India, Brazil, Vietnam, and Russia [1]. Therefore, statement 2 is incorrect as it falsely limits the geographical occurrence of these minerals. Statements 1 and 3 accurately reflect the geopolitical and economic reasons for the recent supply concerns.

Sources

1. [1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1drqeev36qo