Russia is looking to ramp up rare earths production but it’s late to the party and faces challenges along the way to establishing its position in the highly-lucrative global market, analysts say. Russian President Vladimir Putin last week ordered his officials to complete a road map by Dec.1 “for the long-term development of the extraction and production of rare and rare earth metals.” Moscow has fallen behind peers like China when it comes to the exploitation of its deposits of rare earth elements, which are mainly used to make high-strength magnets which are vital components in high-tech and energy industries, such ... (full story)