Brazil emerges as key supplier of critical minerals as firms chase net‑zero by 2030

Brazil holds about 98% of the world’s niobium reserves, the second‑largest stock of rare earths and substantial deposits of lithium, graphite and nickel. Global demand for these critical minerals—essential for electric‑vehicle batteries, wind turbines and solar panels—is expected to quadruple by 2040. China currently dominates rare‑earth refining and downstream processing, prompting the United States and the European Union to adopt policies such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Critical Raw Materials Act to secure supply chains and reduce reliance on a single source.

Brazil’s strategic resource base offers both an opportunity to attract foreign investment in processing and a risk of remaining a raw‑material exporter. In parallel, Brazilian consultancy Dinâmica Ambiental has pledged to become net‑zero by 2030, stressing that accurate emissions inventories (Scopes 1‑3) and immediate decarbonisation actions are essential for companies to avoid rising climate‑related costs and risks. The convergence of mineral geopolitics and corporate net‑zero commitments underscores the urgency for Brazil to develop mid‑stream capacity and align with international climate goals.