Andhra Pradesh to Open Coastline for Rare Earth Mining, Aims to Cut China Imports

• Andhra Pradesh plans large-scale rare earth and titanium-bearing beach sand mining to reduce India's dependence on Chinese imports.
• State-run APMDC has identified significant heavy mineral deposits, positioning Andhra Pradesh as a potential hub for critical mineral processing.
• The state holds nearly 25% of India’s beach sand mineral resources, including ilmenite, rutile, zircon, and monazite (a key source of rare earth elements).
• This move addresses China's dominance in critical mineral supply chains, as India imports over 75% of its titanium dioxide pigment and relies heavily on rare earth imports.
• Andhra Pradesh aims to develop an integrated value chain from extraction to advanced manufacturing, leveraging its ports and industrial infrastructure.