Dysprosium
Dysprosium adds high-temperature coercivity to Nd-Fe-B magnets for EV traction motors and offshore turbines. Supply is concentrated in ion-adsorption clays of southern China and conflict-prone Myanmar, so regulatory clampdowns trigger sharp price swings. Grain-boundary diffusion, recycling and motor redesigns curb Dy intensity, yet absolute demand still grows with magnet volume in electrification and defence applications.
Supply Dynamics
-
Chinese clay leach deposits remain dominant; environmental crackdowns curtail illegal pits.
-
Myanmar feed is politically unstable; militia control disrupts exports.
-
Separation capacity is almost entirely Chinese, giving Beijing leverage over global supply.
-
Magnet-swarf recycling still <5 % but scaling in Japan/EU.
-
Australian/Canadian HREE projects unlikely to add significant tonnage before late-2020s.
Demand Dynamics
-
Each million EVs needs ≈65 t Dy at today’s loading.
-
Direct-drive wind turbines (>12 MW) require up to 150 kg Dy each.
-
Defence/aerospace actuators create price-inelastic baseline demand.
-
Grain-boundary diffusion cuts Dy per kg magnet by up to 70 %, slowing intensity growth.
-
Industrial Terfenol-D sensors and actuators expand with automation markets.