Does China's refining advantage rule out competing capacity?

Would China's refining technology keep it more efficient while Western rare-earth capacity is built?

The assessment recognises Chinese advantages but rejects treating them as decisive technological superiority.

Chinese refining technology is considered as a possible source of continuing efficiency advantages while Western capacity expands. The November 2025 assessment accepts that China has advantages but disputes that they amount to an overriding technological superiority. No numerical cost or efficiency comparison is offered.