Press release
UK must end dependency on crucial Chinese magnets, experts warn
Reducing dependency on China is crucial if the UK is to secure supply of magnets that are critical in powering modern technologies, University of Dundee research has concluded.
Published on 31 August 2026
However, experts from the University’s Faculty of Science, Engineering and Business warn that diversifying supply of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets - essential for the operation of electric vehicles, mobile phones and wind turbines - will present considerable political, financial, and ethical challenges.
The team say that building stockpiles, including the creation of strategic reserves, is integral to securing supply of the magnets, but that reducing dependency on China may still take several years.
The full study has been published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition.
Dr Thomas Jones, an expert in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Science at Dundee, said, “As the transition to clean energy sources intensifies, the critical role of NdFeB magnets has becoming increasingly apparent. This includes the supply chains required to manufacture these and the complex challenges governments face in ensuring their steady and safe supply.
“However, we live in uncertain times and political and economic realities mean there is a need for governments to be aware of the significance of these components. From the electric vehicles we drive to the phones and tablets we use to communicate, much of our modern lives cannot be sustained without these critical components.
“There is no simple and quick solution, which presents a considerable challenge for governments and industry in striking a balance between security and sustainability, diversification and cost, and innovation.”
NdFeB magnets are among the world’s strongest permanent magnets and are utilised in dozens of household and industrial applications.
Mobile phones utilise the magnets in speakers, microphones, and camera systems, while headphones rely on the technology to boost power from compact audio drivers. They are ubiquitous in washing machines as a means of reducing noise and vibration, while refrigerators also use NdFeB magnets to lower energy consumption.
They are also crucial throughout the construction of electric vehicles, particularly in the traction motors that provide drive to the wheels. With EV’s playing a key part of the transition to net zero, ensuring a steady supply of magnets is key to meeting future emissions targets.
Dr Vlado Vivoda, an expert in critical minerals and energy security and Honorary Fellow at the University of Queensland, added, “There is no cost-free path to diversification. Building more resilient supply chains will require governments and industry to make difficult choices between security, affordability, environmental performance and the speed at which new capacity can realistically be delivered.
“The objective should not be complete self-sufficiency, which is neither practical nor economically desirable, but a more diversified system in which no single disruption can bring essential industries to a halt.”
You can read the full study in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition.