Commodities in the spotlight – our appearance on ARD
The moment arrives on June 10, 2025, at 9:45 PM: Our technology metals and rare earths will be the focus of ARD. This prominent feature in the evening program demonstrates: It is no longer merely about metals. It concerns geopolitical dependencies, the industrial future – and strategic decisions.
Three days of filming. A few minutes. And a strong signal.
In November 2024 and March 2025, an ARD camera crew accompanied us for three full days of filming. As is typical for TV productions, only a short segment likely remained. This makes it all the more interesting to see how the editorial team addresses one of our core topics: Germany’s failures in building an independent raw material supply.
Programme topic: Germany’s difficult relationship with China
At the centre is the close—and at the same time fragile—interdependence with China. Relationship status? “It’s complicated.”
The monopoly power of the present
For decades, China has deliberately pursued technological sovereignty—and in doing so has built on the raw materials of the future.
Deng Xiaoping’s 1992 remark still captures it perfectly today: “The Middle East has oil; China has rare earths.”
The new oil—and the race for technological dominance
FAZ calls rare earths “the new oil”—and that is no exaggeration.
China controls large parts of the global supply and deliberately blocks the export of key elements to the United States. The consequences are tangible: for defence, digitalisation, AI and quantum computing. The race for technological power has long since begun.
Tune in—and dive in
Exciting, unsettling, eye-opening? We, too, are eager to see how the editorial team presents the topic closest to our hearts.
From your armchair, you are taken right into one of the greatest power plays of our time.
Tune in—and follow us through this highly topical issue.