Global Scans · Resource Scarcity · Weekly Summary

• [New] China asserts dominance over rare earth minerals, controlling 61% of global production and over 90% of processing, by imposing export controls that could halt industrial operations worldwide for essential components in missiles, electric vehicles, and smartphones. GeopoliticsUnplugged Substack
• [New] Strategic vulnerabilities emerged through China's control of critical minerals and Russia sanctions evasion. RealTime DemTrends
• [New] Iran is facing one of the most severe energy disruptions in its modern history, marked by recurring blackouts, water scarcity, and an overstretched power grid. bricsgrain
• [New] The rapid rise in demand for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper presents a historic opportunity for developing countries. UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
• [New] The looming threat of further tariff escalation, as evidenced by China's restrictions on rare earth materials, adds an additional layer of uncertainty for businesses and investors. Skill Farm
• [New] Critical minerals underpin industries worth trillions of dollars, and import dependence puts key sectors at risk. Supply Chain Dive
• [New] UKEF will update its eligibility to include growth minerals as part of its critical minerals-focused international and domestic support to help strengthen copper supply chains for UK businesses and projects. GOV.UK
• The global water crisis, driven partly by climate change, could leave two-thirds of humanity facing water stress by 2026, with water scarcity becoming a critical issue for an increasing number of countries. NewsBreak
• Day Zero Drought conditions are approaching rapidly worldwide, putting vast populations at risk of severe water scarcity. SciTechDaily
• Water scarcity threatens to erase up to 14% of GDP by 2050. Informed Comment
• The recent addition of silver to the U.S. Geological Survey's critical minerals list could have future policy implications, potentially affecting supply chains and pricing. The Chronicle-Journal
• The IEA warns of mounting risks to energy security, particularly due to the high geographic concentration of critical minerals. Strategic Metals Invest
• Vulnerabilities are starkly illustrated by current global dependencies: China accounts for ~60% of rare earth production. Goldman Sachs Asset Management
• The restructuring of global critical minerals supply chains presents both challenges and opportunities for investors and industrial companies. Discovery Alert
• Beyond tourism, Japanese officials fear Beijing could escalate tensions by tightening exports of rare earth elements. The Asahi Shimbun
• As announced in the Industrial Strategy, the new Supply Chain Centre, will help identify and mitigate supply chain risks for UK companies in the critical minerals sector. GOV.UK
• Global demand for critical minerals will increase fourfold by 2040, with certain materials experiencing growth multiples of thirty times current consumption levels. Discovery Alert
• $580 billion (US dollars) in capital investments will be required globally by 2040 to develop new critical minerals mines under the Announced Pledges Scenario (APS). GOV.UK
• Due to timescales at which clean energy technologies will reach end of life, recycled sources of critical minerals will ramp up from 2030 and become a significant source of critical minerals by 2040. GOV.UK
• Rare earth element supply chains demonstrate vulnerability to single-point failures, with most global production dependent on Chinese processing facilities that could be disrupted by various scenarios ranging from natural disasters to geopolitical tensions. Discovery Alert
• China's dominance in critical minerals and rare earths, combined with recent export controls, has raised risks for strategic EU sectors such as automotive, defence, energy technology, and AI infrastructure. CEPR
• Producing more critical minerals domestically to high Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards will become increasingly vital to meet UK demand, in a world of shifting geopolitics and potential for supply chain disruptions. GOV.UK

Last updated: 13 December 2025