Critical Minerals Market Review 2023

While the focus has understandably been on battery metals and copper, recent events such as the export curbs on Chinese gallium and germanium in July 2023 have highlighted the significance of a lesser-known group of critical minerals, often characterised by small volumes, but high levels of supply concentration. These illustrate how relatively niche minerals such as magnesium, high-purity manganese, high-purity phosphorus and silicon may disrupt supply chains due to high reliance on a small group of suppliers. High-purity manganese requires a particular attention given the growing trends to adopt manganese-rich chemistries in batteries and the lack of projects to supply high-purity products, especially outside China.

A broad and bold strategy is needed that brings together investment, innovation, recycling, rigorous sustainability standards and well-designed safety nets

To bolster global progress, the IEA will host the first ever international summit on critical minerals on 28 September 2023, bringing together ministers from mineral-producing and -consuming economies as well as industry, investors and civil society to discuss measures for collectively promoting a secure and sustainable supply of critical minerals.