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Global critical mineral demand and supply risks

Updated 7 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-30 06:48 UTC → 2026-10-06 12:13 UTC · added removed

Global demand for critical minerals is rising due to the transition toward renewable energy, electric vehicles, and digital infrastructure. While life cycle assessments suggest the climate benefits of net-zero technologies outweigh the environmental costs of extraction, the transition faces significant supply chain vulnerabilities due to concentrated production. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that copper demand could increase by approximately 7 million tons by 2040, with a potential 25 percent supply deficit by 2035. Recent assessments indicate that the expansion of data centers for artificial intelligence and cloud computing is intensifying pressure on the supply of copper, aluminum, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements. This shift marks a transition from a focus on digital software to a struggle over the physical materials required for innovation, including robotics and the aerospace industry. Geopolitical tensions are increasing as nations seek to diversify production chains to reduce dependence on a limited number of suppliers, particularly as China maintains a leading position in refining and processing. In response, nations are seeking According to strengthen industrial sovereignty. In Mexico, the Association IEA’s ‘Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025’, demand is further driven by the convergence of Mining, Metallurgical the solar photovoltaic sector, electronics, and Geological Engineers (AIMMGM) high-performance superalloys. This has noted that caused the country is positioned role of the mining industry to rejoin global supply chains by focusing shift from a focus on technology, sustainability, the green transition toward a matter of international security and defense capability. While Norway’s 2023 strategy emphasized sustainability, there is a growing trend in Europe to view these minerals through the lens of strategic value addition, supported by chain control. In response, the Mexico-United United States Critical Minerals Action Plan. Similarly, in Chile, officials have identified rare earth elements as a driver for regional development is investing heavily in the Biobío, Ñuble, and Maule regions, with initiatives focused on extraction, concentrate production, new projects and the potential development of processing and separation plants. capacity, while the European Union is developing regulatory frameworks like the Critical Raw Materials Act to avoid falling behind. In response, nations are seeking to strengthen industrial sovereignty.

Versions

  1. 2026-10-06 12:13 UTC Global critical mineral demand and supply risks
  2. 2026-09-30 06:48 UTC Global critical mineral demand and supply risks
  3. 2026-09-11 22:32 UTC Global critical mineral demand and supply risks
  4. 2026-09-08 07:06 UTC Global critical mineral demand and supply risks
  5. 2026-09-02 08:44 UTC Global critical mineral demand and supply risks
  6. 2026-08-27 05:21 UTC Global critical mineral demand and supply risks
  7. 2026-08-26 03:23 UTC Global critical mineral demand and supply risks
  8. 2026-08-24 11:21 UTC Global critical mineral demand and supply risks

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