India, Myanmar eye rare earths deal

India and Myanmar are moving closer on rare earth mining, signalling a deepening partnership in a sector dominated by China.

Speaking at a mining forum in Mandalay on Wednesday, India’s Ambassador Abhay Thakur highlighted growing collaboration between the two countries, pointing to recent visits by Indian delegations and high‑level talks during junta chief Min Aung Hlaing’s trip to New Delhi earlier this year.

Thakur said India’s demand for critical minerals, combined with Myanmar’s potential for sustainable mining, offered “solid, win‑win opportunities” both in the short and long term.

Nearly half of the world’s supply of heavy rare earths is extracted from Myanmar’s Kachin State, much of it shipped to China for processing into magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines.

India has been seeking alternatives to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains. Reuters has previously reported that New Delhi even explored sourcing samples via the Kachin Independence Army, which controls key mining hubs near the Chinese border.

At the Mandalay forum, Indian firms including IREL, NTPC Mining, Himadri Specialty, Oceanic Sands, PrNd Metal & Magnets and Jai Puri Holdings were present. Thakur also noted Midwest Advanced Materials’ engagement with Myanmar, though details were not disclosed.

The cooperation marks a notable shift in regional dynamics. For Myanmar, closer ties with India could provide new investment and legitimacy for its mining sector, while for India the partnership offers a strategic hedge against China’s near‑monopoly on rare earths.

As demand for clean energy technologies accelerates worldwide, rare earths have become a critical resource. India’s outreach to Myanmar underscores how geopolitics and resource security are increasingly intertwined, with both countries betting that deeper cooperation could reshape supply chains in Asia.

-2026-07-24