Taiwan pursues rare earth independence through recycling
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Researchers at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan began experimenting with dissolving magnets from discarded electric vehicle motors to extract valuable rare-earth metals like dysprosium.
The team successfully demonstrated a method for selectively separating these materials, though further work is needed to refine the process for industrial use. Driven by China’s dominance, accounting for 91 percent of refined magnet rare earths in 2024, the Taiwanese government aims to secure its supply of these critical industrial materials.
Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin announced plans for a pilot production line within three years and a goal to domestically produce half of the country’s anticipated 2,000-tonne annual rare-earth needs by 2030. Taiwan intends to build a supply chain less reliant on China by focusing on specialized refining and recycling, potentially supplemented by imported raw materials.
The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has achieved 99.9 percent purity in producing rare-earth oxides and metals from resources containing only 5 percent rare earths and is sharing this technology with industry. However, experts emphasize that technical capability is not enough. UWin Nanotech vice president Leo Chang stated that feedstock availability and overall economics are Taiwan’s main constraints, suggesting a focus on concentrated waste like end-of-life magnets.
The government is also exploring primary material sources in the United States, Australia, and Canada, while simultaneously enacting policies like the Resource Circulation Promotion Act to prioritize recycled materials in public procurement and incentivize private investment. Taiwan also envisions becoming a technology and processing partner for regional recycling facilities, exporting expertise instead of importing waste.
