AsianFin -- China should continue to play a central role in the global rare-earth materials supply chain due to its technical expertise and competitiveness, according to Neo Performance Materials Inc., a leading Western producer of critical materials.

“China will remain, and frankly should remain, the dominant player in the space,” CEO Rahim Suleman said in an interview on Wednesday in Toronto.

Neo Performance Materials, a Canadian company, operates not only in China but also across Asia, Europe, and North America, producing a range of critical materials used in high-tech, clean energy, and defense applications.

Suleman emphasized that China’s advanced processing capabilities, economies of scale, and innovation in rare-earth technology make it an indispensable link in the international supply chain, despite ongoing global efforts to diversify sources.