ASTANA — Global rare earth production has nearly quadrupled to 379,900 tons over the past two decades, driven by demand for digital technologies and clean energy. In Kazakhstan, the sector remains a small but emerging part of industrial output, reflecting its early stage of development within a rapidly expanding global market.
Rare earth elements, a group of 17 metals essential for technologies ranging from microchips to wind turbines, are increasingly central to the global economy. Their unique physical and chemical properties make them critical for high-performance magnets, batteries and electronic devices.
At the same time, global supply remains highly concentrated, with more than 70% of mining and approximately 90% of processing located in China. This concentration shapes supply chains and increases the strategic importance of diversification. In this context, rare earths are increasingly viewed as instruments of geo-economic influence, as control over their production and processing can affect access to critical technologies and industrial development.
“Global demand for rare earth elements is very high and continues to grow steadily. The main drivers are electric vehicles, renewable energy, electronics, computers and smartphones. The transition to a digital economy is directly linked to the development of the rare earth market,” said Serik Konakbayev, an engineering geologist and head of operational geology at Solidcore Resources.
According to Konakbayev, this dominance is driven by a combination of factors, including relatively low labor costs, a developed industrial base and the availability of technologies, which provide a significant advantage in developing the sector. In this context, the global market is increasingly seeking to diversify supply, creating opportunities for new producers, including Kazakhstan.
Resource-based and industrial groundwork Kazakhstan has one of the world’s largest mineral resource bases. According to the Ministry of Industry and Construction, more than 9,000 deposits are registered on the state balance sheet, including over 100 containing rare and rare earth elements.
The country produces and processes several key metals, including tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, zirconium and rhenium. Associated elements such as selenium, tellurium, germanium, gallium, indium and scandium are also recovered. Many of these elements are obtained as by-products of uranium, non-ferrous and precious metal mining, which requires complex processing technologies to ensure efficient extraction.
At the moment, the rare metals sector accounts for approximately 0.3% of industrial output, while its relatively low base coincides with growing global demand for rare and rare earth metals. Regional capacity and technological gaps Industrial capacity is concentrated in established metallurgical regions.
The Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium and Magnesium Plant supplies titanium and magnesium for aerospace and metallurgy. The Ulba Metallurgical Plant processes beryllium, niobium and tantalum used in nuclear energy and electronics. In Zhezkazgan, Zhezkazganredmet produces rhenium and osmium for high-temperature alloys and chemical applications.
Other enterprises contributing to the sector include vanadium concentrate production in the Kyzylorda Region and tungsten projects in the Almaty Region.