Russian outlet Sputnik reported that Vietnam has overtaken India to become China’s fifth-largest importer of rare earths, based on July 2025 trade data. Vietnam’s imports more than doubled to about US$1.3 million, while India’s purchases fell by over one-third, dropping it to eighth place.
Japan remained the top buyer, nearly doubling imports to US$13.8 million. The Netherlands moved into second place, South Korea rose to third, and the United States slipped to fourth after a 20 percent decline in purchases.
The shift highlights Vietnam’s rising importance in the global rare earth supply chain and signals changing dynamics in China’s export market.
Source: Sputnik, August 27, 2025
https://sputniknews.cn/20250827/1067074922.html