On 2 December 2025, the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper published an article on the major challenges of recycling rare earths in the EU. The article shows that despite ambitious recycling targets, only a fraction of the metals are currently being recovered. Europe's circular economy is therefore falling far short of expectations. A raw materials expert from TRADIUM explains the challenges currently facing European recyclers and why the recycling of rare earths is currently not a serious alternative to imports.
