USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024

Global Mineral Production

Production data for 20 critical and strategic minerals by country, based on the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries. Explore which nations control the supply chains for lithium, cobalt, rare earths, and other materials essential to the modern economy.

20
Minerals tracked
35
Countries with data
2023
Data year
USGS
Data source

Critical Minerals

Strategic materials essential for clean energy, defense, and advanced manufacturing. Supply chains are highly concentrated in few countries.

Cobalt

critical
Top producer: DR Congo (73%)
6 producing countries · metric tons

Graphite (Natural)

critical
Top producer: China (84%)
6 producing countries · thousand metric tons

Lithium

critical
Top producer: Australia (48%)
6 producing countries · metric tons (Li content)

Rare Earth Elements

critical
Top producer: China (69%)
8 producing countries · metric tons (REO content)

Titanium

critical
Top producer: China (27%)
10 producing countries · thousand metric tons (ilmenite equiv.)

Tungsten

critical
Top producer: China (86%)
7 producing countries · metric tons (W content)

Vanadium

critical
Top producer: China (70%)
5 producing countries · metric tons (V content)

Precious Metals

Rare, naturally occurring metallic elements with high economic value. Used in jewelry, investment, and high-tech applications.

Gold

precious
Top producer: China (11%)
10 producing countries · metric tons

Platinum Group Metals

precious
Top producer: South Africa (60%)
5 producing countries · metric tons

Base Metals

Common metals produced in large volumes and foundational to industrial and construction activity worldwide.

Copper

base
Top producer: Chile (25%)
10 producing countries · thousand metric tons

Manganese

base
Top producer: South Africa (38%)
8 producing countries · thousand metric tons

Nickel

base
Top producer: Indonesia (55%)
7 producing countries · thousand metric tons

Tin

base
Top producer: China (31%)
8 producing countries · metric tons

Zinc

base
Top producer: China (32%)
10 producing countries · thousand metric tons

Industrial Minerals

Non-metallic minerals and high-volume metals used as raw materials in manufacturing, construction, and chemical processes.

Bauxite (Aluminum)

industrial
Top producer: Australia (25%)
8 producing countries · million metric tons

Chromium

industrial
Top producer: South Africa (41%)
7 producing countries · thousand metric tons (Cr content)

Iron Ore

industrial
Top producer: Australia (37%)
10 producing countries · million metric tons

Molybdenum

industrial
Top producer: China (52%)
9 producing countries · metric tons (Mo content)

Silicon (Industrial)

industrial
Top producer: China (87%)
6 producing countries · thousand metric tons

Energy Minerals

Minerals that serve as primary fuels or raw materials for energy generation, including nuclear and fossil fuel sectors.

Uranium

energy
Top producer: Kazakhstan (43%)
9 producing countries · metric tons (U content)

Why Mineral Supply Chains Matter

The Clean Energy Transition

Electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels require significant quantities of lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, and copper. The IEA estimates that achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 will require a six-fold increase in mineral demand for clean energy technologies.

Supply Concentration Risk

Many critical minerals are geographically concentrated. China controls over 60% of rare earth production. The DRC produces 70%+ of cobalt. Chile and Australia dominate lithium. This concentration creates strategic vulnerabilities for countries dependent on imports.

Production data from USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024, published by the U.S. Geological Survey National Minerals Information Center. Data year 2023. Some values are estimated. US import reliance figures indicate the percentage of apparent consumption met by imports.