Highlights

• Major powers like the U.S., China, and EU are intensifying efforts to control critical minerals essential for energy, defense, and digital technologies.
• China currently dominates global rare earth production and processing, controlling around 60% of production and 90% of processing capacity.
• Western nations are developing integrated supply chain strategies from upstream extraction to downstream manufacturing to reduce geopolitical dependencies.

In a comprehensive analysis published by Óscar Granados in El País, (opens in a new tab) the escalating global competition for critical minerals—essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, and defense systems—is meticulously detailed. The article underscores the strategic importance of developing integrated supply chains encompassing upstream, midstream, and downstream operations to secure these vital resources.

What’s Unfolding?

Major powers like the U.S., China, and the EU are intensifying efforts to secure critical minerals, such as cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements, vital for energy, defense, and digital technologies. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), home to vast cobalt and coltan reserves, remains a geopolitical hotspot, with President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi proposing mineral deals to the U.S. in exchange for military aid. Meanwhile, China holds a commanding lead in the critical minerals sector, controlling around 60% of global rare earth production and nearly 90% of processing capacity. This grip extends to the battery and electric vehicle markets, where Chinese firms dominate global manufacturing.

In response, Western nations are working to establish independent, integrated supply chains. The U.S. Department of Defense has invested over $439 million to build a domestic mine-to-magnet ecosystem, while Australia backs Iluka Resources’ downstream refining. Still, the article stresses that upstream extraction is not enough; midstream and downstream capabilities are essential, though costly and slow to develop. Strategic partnerships—such as RareX and Iluka’s Kenya-Australia model—are emerging to link African mining with allied processing, aiming to reduce reliance on China and improve supply chain resilience.

Conclusion

The analysis by Óscar Granados articulates the complexities of securing critical mineral resources in a geopolitically charged environment. It underscores that achieving true supply chain resilience requires comprehensive strategies encompassing all stages of production—from extraction to processing to manufacturing. The article does not trivialize the challenges inherent in developing midstream and downstream capabilities; instead, it presents them as critical hurdles that must be overcome through strategic investments and international cooperation.