Introduction
A recent analysis by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reveals that the US is 100% dependent on imports for 11 key minerals, as reported by Visual Capitalist. These minerals include arsenic, cesium, fluorspar, gallium, graphite, and indium, which are entirely sourced from countries like China and Mexico.
China’s Dominant Role in Mineral Exports
According to the report, China dominates the exportation of these critical minerals to the US. Materials such as natural graphite, gallium, scandium, and indium are primarily sourced from China. In some cases, China’s share in the US supply exceeds 90%. Other countries like Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa also play significant roles in supplying other minerals.
Specific Mineral Dependence
- Arsenic: Crucial for semiconductors, mainly imported from China.
- Cesium: Used in electronics, imported from Germany.
- Fluorspar and Gallium: Essential for cement, metals, chips, and LEDs, sourced entirely from Mexico and Japan.
- Other Minerals: Graphite (China), Indium (South Korea), Manganese (Gabon), Niobium (Brazil), Rubidium (China), Scandium (Japan), and Tantalum (Japan) are also 100% imported.
Mineral Dependence Levels
Among the minerals, circonium has the lowest dependence on imports at 25%. Other minerals with significant import reliance include tellurium (75%), paladium (64%), vanadium (60%), and aluminum (53%).
In total, the US shows a dependence of at least 50% on 47 non-energy minerals, with 11 of them having a 100% reliance on imports. This situation has worsened over the past decade due to growing demand for clean technologies and increasing domestic extraction capabilities.
Geopolitical Risks
The rising geopolitical tensions with China have highlighted this vulnerability. In 2023, the Chinese government imposed restrictions on gallium and germanium exports—both strategic for semiconductors and military systems—raising concerns in Washington.
The International Energy Agency estimates that China controls 70% of the world’s refining capacity for critical minerals, making it a challenging actor to replace in the short term.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Which minerals is the US 100% dependent on importing? A: Arsenic, cesium, fluorspar, gallium, graphite, and indium.
- Q: Which countries are the primary sources of these minerals? A: China, Mexico, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, and Canada.
- Q: How have geopolitical tensions affected mineral imports? A: Tensions with China have raised concerns due to export restrictions on strategic minerals like gallium and germanium.
- Q: What percentage of critical minerals’ global refining capacity does China control? A: 70%, according to the International Energy Agency.
