50
Minerals on the U.S. Government's 2022 Critical Minerals List
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
12
Critical minerals for which the U.S. is 100% import-dependent
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
~$4.4T
Estimated value of global critical minerals market by 2030
— USGS Mineral Resources Program, 2024
31
Minerals classified as critical by Natural Resources Canada
— Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), 2024
Critical minerals have moved from niche geology discussions to front-page policy debates. The global energy transition — from electric vehicles to wind turbines to grid-scale batteries — depends on raw materials that are geographically concentrated, often politically sensitive, and inadequately produced domestically. The U.S. government's formal Critical Minerals List identifies 50 minerals whose supply disruption could damage national security, the economy, or clean energy goals. This page aggregates 40+ statistics from the USGS Mineral Resources Program, USGS Mineral Industry Surveys, and Natural Resources Canada to give a clear, current picture of where the U.S. stands on reserves, production, and import exposure across the minerals that matter most for the next decade.
Critical Minerals Overview & Policy
50 minerals
Number of minerals designated "critical" in the U.S. government's 2022 Final Critical Minerals List.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
12 minerals
Critical minerals for which the U.S. is 100% import-dependent, with no domestic production.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
31 minerals
Minerals for which the U.S. is more than 50% import-dependent, representing significant supply chain vulnerability.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
China is the leading global supplier for many critical minerals, controlling processing capacity for rare earth elements, lithium hydroxide, cobalt, gallium, germanium, and graphite. The USGS notes that China processes approximately 60% of the world's lithium and 85% of the world's rare earth elements. — USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
Lithium: Reserves & Production
22 million tonnes
U.S. lithium resources (total identified), the largest in the world by some estimates.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
12 million tonnes
U.S. lithium reserves (economically extractable at current prices and technology).
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
98 million tonnes
Global identified lithium reserves, with Chile holding the largest share at ~34%.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
~130,000 tonnes
U.S. lithium carbonate equivalent production in 2023 — primarily from Nevada brine operations.
— USGS Mineral Industry Surveys, 2024
The U.S. has only one active commercial lithium producer: Albemarle's Silver Peak brine operation in Nevada — the oldest continuously operating lithium production site in North America. New projects in Nevada, Arkansas (lithium-rich brines), and North Carolina (spodumene pegmatites) are in development. — USGS Mineral Industry Surveys, 2024
860,000 tonnes
Global lithium mine production in 2023, led by Australia (86,000 t) and Chile (44,000 t).
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
Cobalt: Supply Chain & Import Risk
76%
Share of U.S. cobalt that is imported — making it one of the highest-risk critical mineral supply chains.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
~70%
Share of global cobalt production from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
180,000 tonnes
Estimated U.S. cobalt resources, primarily in Minnesota, Michigan, and Alaska.
— USGS Mineral Resources Program, 2023
230,000 tonnes
Global cobalt mine production in 2023, with the DRC contributing approximately 160,000 tonnes.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
Copper: Production & Demand
1.1 million tonnes
U.S. copper mine production in 2023 — 4th largest globally behind Chile, Peru, and DRC.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
50 million tonnes
U.S. copper reserves — among the largest in the world, concentrated in Arizona and Utah.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
22 million tonnes
Global copper mine production in 2023, with Chile producing approximately 5.3 million tonnes (24%).
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
Copper demand is projected to roughly double by 2035 as electrification accelerates. A typical electric vehicle uses approximately 83 kg of copper — four times more than a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle. Wind turbines use 2–5 tonnes of copper each. — USGS Mineral Resources Program, 2024
~$8,500/tonne
Average LME copper price in 2023; copper briefly exceeded $10,000/t in early 2024.
— USGS Mineral Industry Surveys, 2024; Kitco Market Data, 2024
Nickel & Other Battery Metals
~100%
U.S. import dependency for nickel used in stainless steel and battery applications.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
3.3 million tonnes
Global nickel mine production in 2023, led by Indonesia (1.8 million tonnes, 55% of global supply).
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
~100%
U.S. import dependency for manganese — used in steel production and EV battery cathodes.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
~100%
U.S. import dependency for graphite — essential for lithium-ion battery anodes.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
Canada's Critical Mineral Sector
31 minerals
Minerals on Canada's official Critical Minerals List, published by Natural Resources Canada in 2021.
— Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), 2024
~$3.8 billion CAD
Canadian critical mineral production value in 2022, with nickel, cobalt, and copper leading.
— Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), 2024
Canada's Ring of Fire in northern Ontario hosts one of the world's largest undeveloped chromite deposits, plus significant nickel, cobalt, copper, and platinum group elements. NRCan estimates the Ring of Fire could be worth over $60 billion CAD in mineral resources. — Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), 2023
~140,000 tonnes
Canada's nickel production in 2023, making it the 5th largest global producer.
— Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), 2024
U.S. Import Dependency by Mineral
Gallium: 100%
U.S. gallium import dependency — gallium is used in semiconductors, LEDs, and solar cells. China produces ~80% of world supply.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
Germanium: 100%
U.S. germanium import dependency — critical for fiber optics, infrared optics, and semiconductors.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
Indium: 100%
U.S. indium import dependency — used in flat panel displays (ITO coatings) and thin-film solar cells.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
Rare Earths: ~85%
China's share of global rare earth processing capacity — creating strategic supply concentration for the U.S. defense and clean energy sectors.
— USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
What are critical minerals?
Critical minerals are raw materials considered essential to modern economies and national security, yet at risk of supply disruption. The U.S. government's 2022 critical minerals list includes 50 minerals ranging from lithium and cobalt (for EV batteries) to rare earth elements (for defense electronics and clean energy) and copper (essential for all electrification).
How dependent is the U.S. on imports for critical minerals?
According to USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024, the U.S. is 100% import-dependent for 12 critical minerals and more than 50% import-dependent for an additional 31 minerals. China is the leading supplier for many, including rare earth elements, gallium, germanium, and processed graphite for battery anodes.
What are U.S. lithium reserves?
The USGS estimates U.S. lithium reserves at approximately 12 million tonnes as of 2024, representing roughly 12% of global reserves. Most U.S. lithium is concentrated in Nevada brine deposits, with emerging lithium-clay and lithium-brine deposits in Nevada, Arkansas, and North Carolina in various stages of development and permitting.
Where does the U.S. get its cobalt?
The U.S. imports approximately 76% of its cobalt needs. The Democratic Republic of Congo dominates global cobalt production at roughly 70% of world supply. Canada is a secondary supplier with significant cobalt production from Ontario and Quebec mining operations. The DRC concentration creates significant supply chain vulnerability for the U.S. battery sector.
What critical minerals does Canada produce?
Canada is a significant producer of cobalt, nickel, lithium, copper, and uranium. Natural Resources Canada classifies 31 minerals as critical. Canada's Ring of Fire in northern Ontario hosts one of the world's largest undeveloped chromite deposits along with major nickel and cobalt resources. Canada is positioned as a key partner for U.S. critical mineral supply chain diversification.
📎 Cite This Page
RockhoundGuide. "Critical Minerals Statistics 2026: U.S. Reserves, Production & Import Dependency." RockhoundGuide.com. April 2026. https://rockhoundguide.com/stats/critical-minerals-statistics-2026