Why everybody is stressing out about rare earth metals — podcast

Episode 101 of Down to Business podcast

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Rare earths are found in all manner of high tech products. But what exactly are they?

This week, Down to Business features Constantine Karayannopoulos, chief executive of Toronto-based Neo Performance Materials Inc, which processes rare earth metals in facilities located around the world.

Neo is not a standard rare earths company in that it doesn’t operate any mines. Instead, it makes magnetic powders and other intermediate products that end up in everything from electric vehicles to wind turbines, solar panels and numerous other high-tech products.

Much to the consternation of leaders in the West, China dominates the rare earths sector, after flawlessly executing an industrial strategy over multiple decades. Karayannopoulos talked about the brewing international tensions over rare earths and their future.

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