The US Geological Survey (USGS) has significantly revised down its estimate of Vietnam's rare-earth reserves to 3.5-million tonnes from 22-million tonnes, a change that if verified could affect the country's ambitions to be a rare-earths powerhouse.
Rare earths are used in multiple industries, including electric vehicles, car batteries and renewables and have applications in electronic and military products.
The revision, published in a January report, has moved Vietnam from second position on the USGS's list of countries with the largest reserves to sixth, after China, Brazil, India, Australia and Russia.
“The rare-earth reserve updates in the 2025 Mineral Commodity Summaries for Vietnam were based on new information and revised data and information from government reports and sources,” the USGS said.
The government has in recent years often cited its reserves of rare earths as one of the advantages for its future technology development, but mass production is yet to begin.
Vietnam extracted only 300 tonnes of rare-earth oxide equivalents last year, flat from a year earlier, according to the USGS report.
In 2023 the US secured deals with Vietnam on semiconductors and critical minerals as Hanoi boosted relations with Washington to its highest diplomatic status.
This week Vietnam expects to sign pacts with the US when trade minister Nguyen Hong Dien meets trade and energy officials during his visit to the US
Reuters
US agency cuts estimate of Vietnam's rare-earth reserves in major revision
Image: Supplied
The US Geological Survey (USGS) has significantly revised down its estimate of Vietnam's rare-earth reserves to 3.5-million tonnes from 22-million tonnes, a change that if verified could affect the country's ambitions to be a rare-earths powerhouse.
Rare earths are used in multiple industries, including electric vehicles, car batteries and renewables and have applications in electronic and military products.
The revision, published in a January report, has moved Vietnam from second position on the USGS's list of countries with the largest reserves to sixth, after China, Brazil, India, Australia and Russia.
“The rare-earth reserve updates in the 2025 Mineral Commodity Summaries for Vietnam were based on new information and revised data and information from government reports and sources,” the USGS said.
The government has in recent years often cited its reserves of rare earths as one of the advantages for its future technology development, but mass production is yet to begin.
Vietnam extracted only 300 tonnes of rare-earth oxide equivalents last year, flat from a year earlier, according to the USGS report.
In 2023 the US secured deals with Vietnam on semiconductors and critical minerals as Hanoi boosted relations with Washington to its highest diplomatic status.
This week Vietnam expects to sign pacts with the US when trade minister Nguyen Hong Dien meets trade and energy officials during his visit to the US
Reuters
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