Terbium as a Stress Test: Environmental Compliance Emerges as China’s Key Heavy Rare Earth Bottleneck
A 2024 academic study argues that China’s heavy rare earth constraints are driven primarily by environmental compliance limits rather than quota ceilings, citing low quota utilization alongside mine closures. It projects terbium shortages could rise 2–5x by 2060 under EV and wind growth, with green mining innovation and improved recycling highlighted as major mitigation levers.