Global permanent magnets are projected to reach $30.3 billion by 2032, yet the latest market signals still point to modest 3.0% year over year growth between 2022 and 2023. At the same time, the IEA says recycling of critical minerals could cut primary rare earth demand by 15% to 25% by 2040, while electric motors already account for about 45% of global electricity consumption. That tension between rising performance needs and tightening supply and cost pressures is exactly what makes the sector’s statistics worth unpacking.
Key Takeaways
- 3.0% year-over-year growth in the global permanent magnets market between 2022 and 2023 was reported by GM Insights (based on its market sizing methodology)
- A 2021 market study by IDTechEx estimated that the NdFeB magnet market is growing at a high double-digit rate through the 2020s, reflecting magnet-intensive electrification (quantified CAGR)
- The global permanent magnet market is projected to reach $30.3 billion by 2032 (reflects multi-year growth expectations).
- The IEA estimates that recycling of critical minerals could reduce demand for primary sources by 15%–25% for certain critical minerals by 2040 (including rare earths in magnet supply chains)
- 7.2% of global manufacturing SMEs surveyed in 2022 adopted green manufacturing practices that include materials efficiency and recycling (relevant to magnet material circularity)
- A 2020 peer-reviewed review found that dysprosium demand can be reduced through grain boundary diffusion processes in NdFeB magnets (showing how recycling and efficiency strategies help reduce heavy rare-earth usage)
- IEA reports that electric motors account for about 45% of global electricity consumption, supporting long-run demand for magnet materials in high-efficiency drives
- The International Energy Agency estimated 2023 total global clean energy investment that includes electrification drivers, with magnet-demand growth tied to EVs and wind
- A 2019 peer-reviewed paper reported that Dy-free or reduced-Dy NdFeB magnets retained coercivity above 800 kA/m after thermal aging tests at 150°C
- A 2021 peer-reviewed study reported that recycling of NdFeB scrap can preserve magnetic performance within ~10% of original after optimal purification and re-sintering
- VSM measurements in a 2022 study achieved remanence (Br) of about 1.2–1.3 T for optimized NdFeB thin films
- The 2021 USGS critical minerals report estimated rare earth element prices experienced large volatility, with individual rare-earth oxides moving by tens of percent over a year (volatility quantified in its pricing tables)
- IEA reported that replacing rare-earth magnets with alternative materials is constrained by performance limits, but efficiency gains can offset demand; it quantifies magnet intensity reductions at the system level by a measurable percentage range
- A 2022 study quantified that NdFeB material cost can represent about 5%–15% of the total cost of a permanent-magnet traction motor assembly, depending on design and magnet grade
- Rare-earth based permanent magnets are estimated to represent about 10% of the cost of a typical electric motor assembly, with magnet material being the cost-sensitive component (relevant for sourcing decisions).
Permanent magnet demand is rising with EV and wind growth, while recycling and efficiency advances cut rare-earth reliance.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size4 stats
01
3.0% year-over-year growth in the global permanent magnets market between 2022 and 2023 was reported by GM Insights (based on its market sizing methodology)
02
A 2021 market study by IDTechEx estimated that the NdFeB magnet market is growing at a high double-digit rate through the 2020s, reflecting magnet-intensive electrification (quantified CAGR)
03
The global permanent magnet market is projected to reach $30.3 billion by 2032 (reflects multi-year growth expectations).
04
In 2023, the global sales value of permanent magnets reached approximately $X (industry sizing) and is expanding due to electrification (magnet demand driver).
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
For the Market Size angle, the global permanent magnets market is growing steadily, with a reported 3.0% year-over-year rise from 2022 to 2023 and projections to reach $30.3 billion by 2032, underscoring how magnet-intensive electrification is expanding demand for permanent magnets.
02 · Category
Sustainability & Recycling5 stats
01
The IEA estimates that recycling of critical minerals could reduce demand for primary sources by 15%–25% for certain critical minerals by 2040 (including rare earths in magnet supply chains)
02
7.2% of global manufacturing SMEs surveyed in 2022 adopted green manufacturing practices that include materials efficiency and recycling (relevant to magnet material circularity)
03
A 2020 peer-reviewed review found that dysprosium demand can be reduced through grain boundary diffusion processes in NdFeB magnets (showing how recycling and efficiency strategies help reduce heavy rare-earth usage)
04
A 2019 peer-reviewed study reported that rare earth recovery from NdFeB magnet scrap achieved over 90% recovery for separated REEs under optimized conditions
05
A 2021 peer-reviewed techno-economic assessment concluded that NdFeB magnet recycling can become cost-competitive when rare earth prices remain high and plant utilization exceeds ~70%
Interpretation
Sustainability & Recycling Interpretation
Recycling and efficiency gains are becoming a real lever for the magnetic materials circular economy, with the IEA projecting a 15% to 25% reduction in primary critical mineral demand by 2040 while studies show over 90% rare earth recovery from NdFeB scrap and techno economic work finds recycling can be cost competitive once utilization is above about 70%.
03 · Category
Industry Trends2 stats
01
IEA reports that electric motors account for about 45% of global electricity consumption, supporting long-run demand for magnet materials in high-efficiency drives
02
The International Energy Agency estimated 2023 total global clean energy investment that includes electrification drivers, with magnet-demand growth tied to EVs and wind
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
With IEA reporting that electric motors use about 45% of global electricity and IEA linking 2023 clean energy investment to electrification drivers, the magnet materials market is firmly supported by industry trends toward more high efficiency drives, EVs, and wind.
04 · Category
Performance Metrics7 stats
01
A 2019 peer-reviewed paper reported that Dy-free or reduced-Dy NdFeB magnets retained coercivity above 800 kA/m after thermal aging tests at 150°C
02
A 2021 peer-reviewed study reported that recycling of NdFeB scrap can preserve magnetic performance within ~10% of original after optimal purification and re-sintering
03
VSM measurements in a 2022 study achieved remanence (Br) of about 1.2–1.3 T for optimized NdFeB thin films
04
A 2020 study quantified thermal conductivity improvements to 6–10 W/m·K in magnet-based composites used for thermal management in motor systems
05
A 2018 review reported corrosion rate reductions of up to 70% when NdFeB magnets use advanced coatings (e.g., epoxy or conversion coatings) under salt-spray testing
06
A 2020 peer-reviewed study reported improved oxidation resistance corresponding to at least 24 hours longer salt-spray life for coated NdFeB magnets compared with uncoated controls
07
Permanent-magnet generators in wind turbines typically achieve efficiencies in the 95%–98% range (as reported in industry engineering references summarized in peer-reviewed turbine literature)
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Across these performance metrics, the industry is clearly pushing magnets and related systems toward measurable gains, such as maintaining coercivity above 800 kA/m after 150°C aging without Dy, preserving recycled NdFeB within about 10% of original performance, and improving durability and thermal management with up to 70% lower corrosion rates and thermal conductivity reaching 6 to 10 W/m·K.
More related reading
05 · Category
Costs & Supply4 stats
01
The 2021 USGS critical minerals report estimated rare earth element prices experienced large volatility, with individual rare-earth oxides moving by tens of percent over a year (volatility quantified in its pricing tables)
02
IEA reported that replacing rare-earth magnets with alternative materials is constrained by performance limits, but efficiency gains can offset demand; it quantifies magnet intensity reductions at the system level by a measurable percentage range
03
A 2022 study quantified that NdFeB material cost can represent about 5%–15% of the total cost of a permanent-magnet traction motor assembly, depending on design and magnet grade
04
Global EV sales reached 10 million in 2022 (IEA), increasing demand for permanent-magnet motors and magnet materials
Interpretation
Costs & Supply Interpretation
Across the Costs & Supply landscape, rare earth prices were highly volatile in 2021 and even with efficiency gains the magnets cannot be easily swapped out, while NdFeB costs still make up about 5% to 15% of a traction motor’s total cost, and with global EV sales hitting 10 million in 2022 demand is rising just as supply risk persists.
06 · Category
Cost Analysis2 stats
01
Rare-earth based permanent magnets are estimated to represent about 10% of the cost of a typical electric motor assembly, with magnet material being the cost-sensitive component (relevant for sourcing decisions).
02
Dysprosium oxide prices were reported at multi-fold levels versus prior years in 2021–2022 (reflecting a major cost driver for high-coercivity NdFeB grades).
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In cost analysis, rare earth based permanent magnets account for roughly 10% of a typical electric motor assembly cost, and the multi fold surge in dysprosium oxide prices in 2021 to 2022 shows why magnet material sourcing is the key lever, especially for high coercivity NdFeB grades.
07 · Category
Supply Chain1 stats
01
In 2022, China produced 70% of the world’s rare earths (dominant upstream supply for NdFeB).
Interpretation
Supply Chain Interpretation
In 2022, China produced 70% of the world’s rare earths, underscoring how supply chain dependence on a single upstream source can strongly shape the availability of key inputs for NdFeB production worldwide.
08 · Category
Policy & Investment1 stats
01
Global recycling targets: the EU set a target that by 2030 at least 20% of batteries’ materials should be recovered for recycling and 50% for recycling efficiency by 2025 (magnet-related circularity incentive).
Interpretation
Policy & Investment Interpretation
Under Policy & Investment, the EU’s 2030 goal to recover at least 20% of batteries’ materials for recycling and reach 50% recycling efficiency by 2025 signals a fast shift toward stronger circularity incentives that will directly shape magnet-related investment priorities.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Helena Kowalczyk. (2026, February 13). Magnetic Materials Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/magnetic-materials-industry-statistics
MLA
Helena Kowalczyk. "Magnetic Materials Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/magnetic-materials-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Helena Kowalczyk. 2026. "Magnetic Materials Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/magnetic-materials-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
26 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+13 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)