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How Strong Are Rare Earth Magnets?

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rare earth magnets

How Strong Are Rare Earth Magnets?

Magnets are an integral part of many technologies and appliances in the 21st century.

From tiny fridge magnets that hold to-do lists to powerful ones that create magnetic fields for electricity generation from wind turbines, there are many different types of magnets.

The worldโ€™s strongest magnets, also known as rare earth magnets, are made by alloying certain rare earth elements with other materials.

But just how strong are rare earth magnets, and what makes them so powerful?

Measuring Magnet Strength

The above infographic uses data from First4Magnets to compare the strength of magnets. But before looking at the strongest magnets, itโ€™s essential to understand how to measure magnetic strength.

The maximum energy product, measured in mega-gauss-oersteds (MGOe), is one of the primary indicators of magnetic strength. It is a multiplication of two measurements: a magnetโ€™s remanence and its coercivity.

  • Remanence:
    To become magnets, ferromagnetic substances need to enter the magnetic field of an existing magnet. Remanence, measured in Gauss, is the magnetism left in the magnet after removing the external magnetic field.
  • Coercivity:
    Coercivity is the energy required to bring a magnetic materialโ€™s magnetism down to zero. Measured in oersteds, it essentially captures the magnetic materialโ€™s resistance to demagnetization.

The Strength of Rare Earth Magnets

Each magnet has a grade, which typically denotes its strength. For example, a neodymium magnet of grade N42 has a strength of 42MGOe.

To put the power of two common rare earth magnet grades into perspective, hereโ€™s how their strength compares with common grades of other permanent magnets:

Magnet (Grade)CompositionMaximum Energy Product (MGOe)
Neodymium (N42)Neodymium, iron, boron42
Samarium Cobalt (SmCo 2:17)Samarium, cobalt28
Alnico (Alnico-5)Iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt5.5
Ferrite (Ferrite-8)Ceramics, iron oxide3.5
Magnetic rubber (Grade Y)Strontium or barium, synthetic rubber, PVC0.8

Note: While the N42 neodymium magnet is used more commonly, the strongest available magnet is of grade N52.

Neodymium and samariumโ€”two of the 17 rare earth elementsโ€”are ferromagnetic, meaning that they have inherent magnetic properties and can be magnetized. These metals are first mined, refined, and then combined with materials like iron, boron, and/or cobalt to make the strongest magnetic alloys.

Neodymium magnets are typically composed of one-third neodymium, along with iron and boron. Some of the neodymium in magnets can be replaced with praseodymium, another rare earth material. For this reason, neodymium magnets are also known as NdPr magnets.

Due to their strength, neodymium magnets have found their way into various technologies, from phones and laptops to motors in electric vehicles. In fact, according to Adamas Intelligence, 90% of all EV motors use NdPr magnets. Because these magnets also offer relatively high strength for a smaller size, they are also the predominant choice for wind turbines, reducing turbine weight significantly.

Samarium-cobalt magnets exhibit exceptional resistance to extreme temperatures. These magnets can operate from temperatures as low as -270โ„ƒ up to 350โ„ƒ and are also highly resistant to corrosion. Consequently, they have important applications in harsh marine environments and technologies with high operating temperatures.

The Demand for Neodymium Magnets

Global EV sales more than doubled last year, up from around 3 million cars in 2020 to 6.6 million in 2021. Similarly, renewable energy is expanding at a record pace, with capacity installations in 2022 set to break the record set the previous year.

With that in mind, itโ€™s no surprise that the demand for rare earth magnets is expected to increase. Neodymium magnet consumption is forecasted to grow from more than 100,000 tonnes in 2020 to 300,000 tonnes by 2035, with EVs and wind turbines driving growth.

However, the supply chain of neodymium magnets remains a concern with China controlling the majority of rare earth extraction, refining, and downstream magnet production.

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Technology Metals

Charted: Where the U.S. Gets Its Rare Earths From

China accounts for 70% of U.S. rare earth imports.

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Between 2020 and 2023, China accounted for 70% of U.S. rare earth imports. This chart shows where the U.S. gets its rare earths from.

Charted: Where the U.S. Gets Its Rare Earths From

This was originally posted on ourย Voronoi app. Download the app for free onย iOSย orย Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

China dominates the global supply of rare earth elements (REEs)โ€”a group of 17 minerals vital to everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to guided missiles and satellites.

Between 2020 and 2023, China accounted for 70% of U.S. rare earth imports, making it by far the countryโ€™s top supplier. Malaysia, Japan, and Estonia round out the top four.

CountryShare of U.S. Imports
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ China70%
๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ Malaysia13%
๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต Japan6%
๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ช Estonia5%
๐ŸŒ Others6%

This chart breaks down Americaโ€™s rare earth import sources. The data comes from theย U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, as of January 2025, andย Statista.

Chinaโ€™s Grip on Rare Earths

Despite their name, rare earths are relatively abundant in the Earthโ€™s crust. The challenge lies in finding them in high enough concentrationsโ€”and processing them economically and sustainably.

China produces around 90% of the worldโ€™s refined rare earths and is home to the largest capacity for separation and purification, giving it a chokehold on global supply chains.

Take yttrium, for exampleโ€”used in radar systems, lasers, and television screens. Between 2020 and 2023, 93% of all yttrium compounds imported into the U.S. came from China.

Other critical rare earths affected by this supply concentration include:

  • Samarium
  • Gadolinium
  • Terbium
  • Dysprosium
  • Lutetium
  • Scandium

Many of these elements are essential in military applications, electric motors, and next-gen electronics. Companies like Lockheed Martin, Tesla, and Apple rely on these materials in their core products.

Tariffs, Tensions, and Export Controls

As part of its response to Donald Trumpโ€™s new tariffs on Chinese goods, China recently expanded export restrictions on seven rare earth elements, temporarily suspending overseas shipments of the minerals.

The U.S. currently has only one rare earth mine: the Mountain Pass mine in California. While itโ€™s one of the richest rare earth deposits globally, nearly all of the ore extracted there is still shipped to China for final processing.

To diversify away from Chinese dependence, the U.S. has been actively seeking new supply partnerships. One potential opportunity is in Ukraine, whichย holdsย Europeโ€™s largest recoverable rare earth reserves. Currently, the Trump administration is working to close aย dealย to secure access to these untapped resources.

Learn More on the Voronoi Appย 

If you enjoyed this graphic, be sure to check outย this chartย illustrating the GDP impact of Trumpโ€™s tariffs on China.

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Misc

Charted: The End-of-Life Recycling Rates of Select Metals

End-of-life recycling rates measure the percentage of a material that is recovered at the end of its useful life, rather than being disposed of or incinerated.

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A chart ranking the end-of-life recycling rates (EOL-RR) of commonly used metals in the economy, per 2021 data from the International Energy Agency.

Charted: The End-of-Life Recycling Rates of Select Metals

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on Apple or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

We visualize the end-of-life recycling rates (EOL-RR) of commonly used metals in the economy. Data is sourced from the International Energy Agency, last updated in 2021.

โ„น๏ธ EOL-RR is the percentage of a material or product that is recycled or recovered at the end of its useful life, rather than being disposed of in landfills or incinerated.

Tracking recycling rates helps manage resources better and make smarter policies, guiding efforts to cut down on waste.

Ranked: The End of Life Recycling Rates of Select Metals

Gold has an 86% recycling rate according to the latest available data. Per the Boston Consulting Group, one-third of total gold supply was met through recycling between 1995โ€“2014.

MetalEnd-of-life recycling
rate (2021)
๐Ÿ” Used In
Gold86%๐Ÿ’ Jewelry / Electronics
Platinum/Palladium60%๐Ÿ”ฌ Optical fibers / Dental fillings
Nickel60%๐Ÿ”‹ Batteries / Turbine blades
Silver50%๐Ÿ’ Jewelry / Mirrors
Copper46%๐Ÿ”Œ Electrical wiring / Industrial equipment
Aluminum42%โœˆ๏ธ Aeroplane parts / Cans
Chromium34%๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Stainless steel / Leather tanning
Zinc33%๐Ÿ”— Galvanizing metal / Making rubber
Cobalt32%๐Ÿ”‹ Batteries / Turbine engines
Lithium0.5%๐Ÿ”‹ Batteries / Pacemakers
REEs0.2%๐Ÿ“ฑ Mobile phones / Hard drives

Note: Figures are rounded.

Several factors can influence metal recycling rates. According to this International Resource Panel report, metals that are used in large quantities (steel) or have a high value (gold) tend to have higher recycling rates.

However, for materials used in small quantities in complex products (rare earth elements in electronics), recycling becomes far more challenging.

Finally, a metalโ€™s EOL-RR is strongly influenced by the least efficient link in the recycling chain, which is typically how it’s initially collected.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed this post, check out Critical Materials: Where China, the EU, and the U.S. Overlap which shows how critical materials are classified within different jurisdictions.

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