French Envoy Says West Could Diversify Rare Earth Supply in 3–5 Years

Western countries could achieve a reasonable degree of rare earth supply diversification within three to five years, Benjamin Gallezot, France’s envoy for strategic minerals and metals supplies, said on October 28, 2026. His assessment points to a potential reduction in dependence on China as projects around the world advance.

Gallezot said related projects were moving ahead rapidly to reduce reliance on a single source of critical minerals. The significance of his assessment lies in the prospect of a broader supply base, although the three-to-five-year window remains an expectation rather than a confirmed delivery schedule.

A reasonable degree of diversification would not necessarily mean eliminating reliance on China. It could instead mean having enough alternative supply options to reduce exposure to disruption from any one source. For rare earth buyers, the practical value would depend on whether those alternatives can provide reliable deliveries that meet their requirements.

The distinction between project progress and available supply is therefore central to the outlook. Advancing projects could widen future procurement choices, but the statement alone does not establish an immediate improvement in availability or support a forecast of lower prices. Any such effects would depend on projects translating into sustained commercial supply.

The developments most relevant to Gallezot’s timeline will be evidence of projects entering operation and delivering consistently to customers. Those milestones would help show whether the current pace of development can produce meaningful diversification within the period he outlined.