Seventeen metallic elements comprise rare earth elements. The fifteen lanthanides include Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium, Neodymium, Promethium, Samarium, Europium, Gadolinium, Terbium, Dysprosium, Holmium, Erbium, Thulium, Ytterbium, and Lutetium, as well as Scandium and Yttrium. Moreover, these elements offer unique catalytic, nuclear, metallurgical, electrical, luminous, and magnetic capabilities. High demand from growing economies and "Green Technology's" dependence on rare earth elements are the reasons driving the growth of the analyzed industry.
China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, and Mexico, among others, are among the most important emerging economies on the planet. In the future, the demand for smartphones, electric vehicles, and computers and their components is expected to increase in these growing economies. Rare earth elements are utilized in mobile phone circuits, sensor materials, speakers, batteries, and other components. According to the GSM Association, the number of unique mobile subscribers in China in 2020 was 1.22 billion and is predicted to reach 1.26 billion by 2025, which is likely to increase the demand for rare earth elements used in the production of mobile phones in the following years. According to the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India, the value of mobile phone production in India amounted to INR 2,140 billion in FY2020. It was projected to reach INR 2,200 billion in FY2021, which is likely to uplift the demand for various rare earth elements from the mobile manufacturing sector in India over the coming years. According to the GSM Association, smartphone penetration in Indonesia stood at 74% in 2019 and is projected to reach 89% by 2025, increasing the need for the studied market in the following years.
Several aluminum alloys containing scandium are utilized in aerospace applications. Companies that manufacture aircraft are primarily interested in scandium-alloyed aluminum alloys because their use can lower aircraft weight by 15 to 20 percent. In addition, scandium-alloyed aluminum can employ weldable structures, which shows the possibility for aircraft manufacturers to reduce costs. The alloys are highly effective and aid in preventing the breaking of welded joints while increasing fatigue life by up to 200 percent. Aluminum-scandium alloys fabricate welded gas tanks, dashboard panels, compartment structures, and significant stamped and welded aircraft components. In addition, they are utilized in the fuselage stringers of large cargo aircraft.
In addition, according to the Boeing Commercial Outlook 2021-2040, about 8,945 additional deliveries will be made in the Asia-Pacific area (excluding China) by 2040, with a market service value of $1,945 billion. In addition, in China alone, about 8,700 new deliveries with a market service value of USD 1,800 billion will be made by 2040. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), INR 35,000 crore (USD 4.99 billion) is planned to be invested in India's aviation industry over the next four years. This is predicted to offer opportunities for aluminum-scandium alloy in aircraft manufacturing in the following years. In the upcoming years, the aspects of the aerospace industry will likely provide opportunities for the analyzed market.
The global rare earth elements market is segmented into Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, and Middle East & Africa.
Asia-Pacific accounted for the largest market share and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period. Regarding natural resources, China is a significant producer of a wide variety of rare earth elements at lower prices than other countries. Currently, most of the world's providers of these high-value rare earth elements are sourced from China, making the global rare earth elements market supply susceptible to changes in China's manufacturing sector. According to a report citing the U.S. Geological Survey, China produced sixty percent of the world's rare earth in 2021. Australia, the United States, and Russia, among others, are the largest producers of minerals, providing lucrative opportunities for the metallurgy applications market.
Europe is the second largest region. The market is anticipated to reach USD 7,466 million by 2031 at a CAGR of 4.2%. The German automobile industry is the largest in Europe. Germany dominates the European automobile market with 41 assembly and engine production factories, accounting for one-third of the continent's total automobile production. Germany, one of the top automotive manufacturing hubs, is home to various firms, including equipment makers, material and component suppliers, engine manufacturers, and system integrators. Germany manufactured 3.74 million cars and light commercial vehicles in 2020, a 24.4% decrease from the 4.94 million vehicles produced in 2019. In the first half of 2021, the nation produced 1,850,287 vehicles, a 16% increase over the 1,595,742 vehicles produced in the first half of 2020. Germany is one of the major manufacturers and customers of electric vehicles in Europe. This expansion, supported by the government's ambition for all-electric vehicles by 2040, will drive market demand.
South America is the third largest region. The Brazilian glass sector will undoubtedly be one of the country's most lucrative markets. The expanding production activities and structural changes in the Brazilian glass sector are anticipated to give a favorable outlook for the country's rare earth element demand in the near future. It is anticipated that the rising demand for glass products will increase glass manufacturing, which, in turn, will likely increase REE demand in the coming years. Brazil boasts some of the largest electronics manufacturing facilities in South America. There are numerous electronics manufacturing facilities in the country, including those of Samsung, LG, Foxconn, Dell, Multilaser, Positivo, AOC, Lenovo, and the Leadership Group. This trend is projected to continue for the foreseeable future. Despite the difficult circumstances, Samsung and LG continue to improve their positions as the leading consumer electronics manufacturers, indicating substantial market potential. Consequently, the market for rare earth elements is anticipated to expand over the forecast period because of the increased demand from numerous end-user industries.