How Much Rare Earths Does an F-35 Really Contain?
The long‑cited claim that each F‑35 Lightning II contains about 920 lb (≈417 kg) of rare‑earth elements stems from a single, unreleased 2012 Department of Defense study and has never been substantiated. Inspector General reports later flagged the underlying data as unreliable, and a 2024 GAO analysis notes the DoD’s total rare‑earth demand is under 0.1 % of global consumption. A first‑principles engineering audit estimates the aircraft actually incorporates 40‑70 kg of REE‑bearing material, yielding roughly 11‑20 kg of pure rare‑earth metals. The discrepancy highlights that the real supply‑chain risk lies in the specific high‑performance grades, not bulk tonnage.
Adamas Launches Western CIF Price Forecasts
Adamas Intelligence has launched Western CIF price forecasts for nine rare‑earth oxides, including NdPr, Nd, Pr, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Lu and Y. The forecasts aim to fill a data vacuum as virtually no separated oxides are produced or traded...
Iran War Oil Spike Spurs EV Searches but Near-Term Demand Impact Likely Muted
The Iran‑related conflict pushed crude oil above $120 per barrel, lifting U.S. gasoline to $4.06 per gallon and triggering a noticeable rise in electric‑vehicle (EV) searches. Edmunds and AI‑driven platform CarEdge reported traffic to popular models such as the Tesla...
Humanoid Robotics Sector Accelerates on Multiple Commercialization Fronts in March
March marked a decisive push toward mass production in the humanoid robotics sector. Tesla announced low‑volume Optimus Gen 3 output this summer with a full‑scale ramp by 2027, while UBTECH partnered with Siemens to reach 10,000 industrial units annually by 2026....
Agility Robotics Secures Commercial Deal with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada
Agility Robotics has signed a Robots-as-a-Service agreement with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada to place seven Digit humanoid robots at the Woodstock, Ontario plant that builds RAV4 SUVs. The robots will automate repetitive logistics tasks such as loading and unloading totes...
Stellantis’ $26 Billion EV Reset – a Potential Net Positive for NdFeB Magnet Demand via EREV Pivot
Stellantis announced a €22.2 billion ($26 billion) charge to reset its EV strategy after over‑estimating adoption rates. The automaker is pivoting to a multi‑energy mix that emphasizes internal‑combustion engines, conventional hybrids and range‑extended electric vehicles (EREVs). Because EREVs rely on permanent‑magnet synchronous...
Is Myanmar’s Military Government Planning Airstrikes on Rare Earth Mines?
A potential supply shock emerged as Myanmar's junta reportedly plans airstrikes on rare‑earth mines in the Kachin‑controlled Pang War region. Chinese mining firms responded by raising national flags on sites and ordering bomb‑shelter construction to signal locations to aircraft. China...
The Fallacy of European Rare Earth Prices
Over the past year European intermediaries have quoted rare‑earth oxide prices that are several times higher than the volume‑backed market rates, creating widespread confusion. Adamas Intelligence data shows that 75% of yttrium oxide, 96% of dysprosium oxide and 95% of...