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.
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.