1、CoverResearch IntelligenceThe Rare Earths War:Thailands Current Position and the Path AheadDecember 2025Krungsri ResearchLong-running US-China trade tensions have spun off into a struggle over access to rare earth elements,thanks to their central role in a range of modern technologies,from EVs and w
2、ind turbines to a wide variety of electronic components.At present,China has a stranglehold on the market due to its control over the mining and processing of rare earth minerals,but the US is rushing to build partnerships and to agree MOUs as it tries to develop new supply chains that sidestep Chin
3、a,and Thailand now finds itself among these potential new partners.Thailand thus has the potential to develop an expanding role in the upstream processing and export of rare earth minerals,while domestic downstream industries would benefit from greater foreign direct investment in the production of
4、rare earth alloys and magnets.Going forward,ongoing technological progress will boost demand further,and if Thailand is well positioned within these supply chains,benefits will naturally flow to the country.However,such a move would not be without costs,and developing a domestic rare earth industry
5、will bring with it a higher risk that communities,society and the wider environment will have to carry the cost of a greater exposure to hazardous waste.Executive Summary2Rare Earth WarPrapan LeenoiA+662 296 6235Unless explicitly stated otherwise,this publication and all material therein is under th
6、e copyright of Krungsri Research.As such,the reuse,reproduction,or alteration of this text or any part thereof is absolutely prohibited without prior written consent.This report draws on a wide range of well-established and trustworthy sources,but Krungsri Research can make no guarantee of the absol