Malaysia is considering allowing limited exports of unprocessed rare earths to
bolster its supply-chain role in autos, defense and consumer goods, foreign
media reported. The government suspended unprocessed rare-earth exports in 2024
to spur domestic processing investment; a senior official said authorities are
now assessing the feasibility of relaxing the curbs amid intensifying
competition for the minerals. Malaysia’s deputy minister for natural resources
and environmental sustainability, Syed, said any new exports would be
conditional on inbound investment and technology transfer and gave no timetable
for changes. Syed said Malaysia has 16.1 mln tonnes of inferred rare-earth
reserves; the government has previously valued them at Ringgit 970 bln (USD 237
bln).
