China leads global reserves in 14 minerals including rare earths

9 articles · Updated · Global Times · Apr 29

China's Ministry of Natural Resources reports that, by 2025, the country also ranked first in production of 17 minerals, with mining industry output reaching 32.7 trillion yuan ($4.78 trillion), or 23.3% of GDP.
China dominates global smelting and processing, producing over 50% of 11 key minerals and accounting for 99% of Manganese smelting and 94% of rare earth smelting products.
The ministry plans to intensify exploration of critical minerals like copper, iron, lithium, cobalt, and nickel during the 15th Five-Year Plan, aiming to secure new exploitable deposits and strengthen industrial supply chains.

Will China's own climate goals ultimately undermine its global mineral dominance?

As the world scrambles for resources, which nations will emerge as the new mineral power players?

Is the global AI and green energy boom at risk from China's mineral stranglehold?

Could China's control over niche minerals derail the West's quantum computing ambitions?

With China controlling key tech minerals, can the West innovate its way out of dependency?