This report from ISP-Myanmar underscores the urgent need for responsible mining practices to pave the way for peace and sustainability in Myanmar’s conflict-affected regions.
By ISP-Myanmar
Executive Summary
Over the past eight years (from 2017 to 2024), Myanmar has become China’s primary external source of rare earth minerals, with a total Myanmar export value exceeding USD 4 billion. Following the 2021 military coup, Myanmar’s exports of rare earths saw a significant surge, with USD 3.6 billion worth of rare earth minerals shipped during the post-coup period 2021-2024. This 2021-2024 post-coup surge in rare earth exports constitutes 84% of the total value of Myanmar’s rare earth exports to China across the wider 2017-2024 eight-year period. The peak year was 2023, when exports reached USD 1.4 billion, largely driven by an expansion of mining activities in conflict-affected regions, particularly in Kachin State. Satellite imagery confirms a marked rise in illegal, unregulated mining activities, involving both military-backed entities and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), exacerbating environmental and social challenges.
Learn more about the report on the ISP-Myanmar page.
The findings from this research were part of the Dialogue on Sustainable Development: Clean Energy, Critical Minerals and Environmental Governance organised by the IDRC and the School of Public Policy (SPP) at Chiang Mai University on August 13, 2026.
This report is part of ongoing research conducted by ISP-Myanmar’s China Studies. The report was produced in June 2025 by ISP-Myanmar and supported by the East West Management Institute. This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of IDRC or its Board of Governors.