Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Organizes Japan-Malaysia Rare Earth Mission-Europe Confronts China's Processing Chokepoint-Is Germany Ready to Put Skin in the Great Powers Era 2.0 Game?

Highlights

• KAS organized a Nov 9–13 delegation to Japan and Malaysia to study how Europe can reduce rare earth dependence on China.
• Japan secured Lynas supply through $250M in JOGMEC and Sojitz financing in 2011—Europe has yet to commit comparable capital.
• REEx identifies 2026–2030 as a critical vulnerability window when Chinese export controls could disrupt manufacturing before alternative capacity is ready.
• Lynas Malaysia holds 10,500 tonnes of annual NdPr oxide nameplate capacity, but uncommitted supply is what matters for European buyers.
• Environmental permitting, radioactive-residue management, and downstream magnet manufacturing remain key constraints in Malaysia.