India looks to Myanmar as it seeks rare earth alternatives to China

India and Myanmar are expanding cooperation on rare earths as New Delhi seeks to reduce its reliance on China for critical minerals. The move follows a series of Indian visits to Myanmar and comes amid growing global competition for resources used in clean energy and high-tech industries.

Speaking at the opening of a mining forum in Mandalay on Wednesday (22 July), India's Ambassador to Myanmar, Abhay Thakur, said bilateral cooperation in mining had gained significant momentum over the past two years. He highlighted visits by two Indian delegations focused on rare earths and critical minerals in December 2024 and February 2026, adding that the issue also received high-level attention during President Min Aung Hlaing's visit to India earlier this year.

Reducing dependence on China

Thakur said India's growing demand for critical minerals, combined with Myanmar's mining potential, creates "win-win" opportunities for both countries in the short and long term.

Myanmar is a key player in the global rare earths supply chain. Nearly half of the world's heavy rare earths are mined in Kachin state before being shipped to China, where they are processed into magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and other advanced technologies.

Reuters has previously reported that India has also sought rare-earth samples through the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which controls many of Myanmar's main mining areas near the Chinese border.

Thakur said several Indian companies attended the Mandalay mining forum, including IREL, NTPC Mining, Himadri Specialty, Oceanic Sands, PrNd Metal & Magnets and Jai Puri Holdings. He also said Midwest from India had been actively engaged in Myanmar in recent years, without providing further details.

Read more:

• Rare earths: Why they are key to clean energy and global geopolitics
• White House gets small rare earth win, but China's export regime is here to stay
• China finds potentially easier-to-mine rare earth deposits in northeastern provinces

Tags

News China India Myanmar mining industry rare earth metals