Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 chemically similar elements that play an outsized role in modern technologies, from smartphones to renewable energy systems. The group includes the 15 lanthanides, along with scandium and yttrium, all of which share unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties that make them indispensable across numerous industries.
These elements are found in small concentrations but are essential for the performance of high-tech components. They’re used in:
• Consumer electronics: smartphones, laptops, flat-screen displays
• Medical technologies: MRI machines, laser scalpels, cancer-fighting drugs
• Defense systems: satellite communications, guidance systems, aerospace materials
• Green energy: electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and energy-efficient lighting
As global economies push toward net-zero carbon emissions, REEs are gaining even more strategic importance. They are the backbone of many clean energy systems, particularly in permanent magnets used in electric motors and wind turbines—where efficiency and durability are non-negotiable.
Trade Classifications for Rare Earth Elements
In international trade, rare earth elements are categorized under the Combined Nomenclature (CN) system. Below is a breakdown of the most relevant codes for classification and regulatory purposes:
• 28053010 – Mixtures or interalloys of rare-earth metals, scandium, and yttrium
• 28053021 – Cerium and lanthanum (≥95% purity, excluding mixtures and interalloys)
• 28053029 – Praseodymium, neodymium, and samarium (≥95% purity)
• 28053031 – Gadolinium, terbium, and dysprosium (≥95% purity)
• 28053039 – Europium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, and yttrium (≥95% purity)
• 28053040 – Scandium (≥95% purity, excluding mixtures and interalloys)
• 28053080 – REEs, scandium, and yttrium (<95% purity, excluding mixtures and interalloys)
• 28461000 – Cerium compounds
• 28469030 – Scandium compounds (inorganic or organic)
• 28469040 – Lanthanum compounds (inorganic or organic)
• 28469050 – Compounds of praseodymium, neodymium, or samarium
• 28469060 – Compounds of gadolinium, terbium, or dysprosium
• 28469070 – Compounds of europium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, or yttrium
• 28469090 – Mixed REE, yttrium, and scandium compounds (inorganic or organic)
The Strategic Edge
While rare earths may only account for a tiny fraction of international trade by weight, their technological significance is massive. With China dominating the extraction and processing of REEs, other nations are working to secure alternative supply chains and boost domestic production capabilities.
As demand continues to surge, understanding the classification and strategic role of rare earths becomes essential—not just for policymakers, but also for investors, engineers, and executives navigating the future of clean tech and global industry.