The United States Geological Survey’s Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025 report has revised down Vietnam’s estimated rare earth reserves from 22 million tons to 3.5 million tons. The report doesn’t provide specific details as to why its estimate has changed other than to say it was “based on company and Government reports.” This change would make Vietnam’s rare earth reserves the sixth biggest in the world.
Of note, the report estimates that just 300 tons of rare earths were mined in Vietnam in 2024. This relatively low tonnage is in large part due to legal problems that have plagued Vietnam’s rare earths industry over the last year or so. This includes the arrests of a number of business persons associated with Vietnam’s rare earth mining industry.
See also: Vietnam’s Rare Earth Partnership Contenders: Unpacked