Russia Reports 68% Import Dependence as Rare Earth Processing Projects Advance

Highlights

• Russia's import dependence on rare and rare earth metals fell from ~75% to 68%, but the figure covers titanium, tungsten, and other metals—not rare earths alone.
• Skygrad's existing separation facility produces up to 100 metric tons annually; the planned Solikamsk facility targeting 2,500 metric tons of rare earth oxides is set for 2028.
• Rosatom's Glazov magnet facility targets a 500-ton annual first phase by 2029, while India partnerships with Giredmet and Nexon Geochem remain development-stage initiatives.
• A gap exists between Russia's USGS-estimated 3.8 million metric ton reserves and a Russian government figure of 28.4 million tons, requiring reconciliation of classification methods.
• Investors are advised to prioritize commissioned, customer-qualified capacity over announced tonnage targets.