Critical minerals demand drives global supply chain and regulatory shifts

The global demand for critical minerals is rising, driven by the energy transition, digitalization, and the expansion of artificial intelligence and data centers. This shift is prompting a restructuring of international supply chains and a move toward a circular economy.

In Europe, new regulations such as the Critical Raw Materials Act and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are expected to transform industrial policy by 2026, moving away from the traditional ‘take-make-dispose’ model toward more sustainable resource management.

In North America, Mexico is positioning itself as a strategic partner due to its production of twelve essential minerals used in robotics and semiconductor manufacturing. The Mexican Chamber of Mining (Camimex) has proposed incorporating specific mining and critical mineral provisions into the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to enhance regional supply security and competitiveness. Meanwhile, Canada is identified as having significant, underutilized export potential for its critical minerals within the European Union market.