Get the critical minerals overview in eight charts
CRITICAL MINERALS | Ore to Product
From raw ore to finished product in four production steps
the chokepoint sits in processing — rarely at the mine
Supply-chain step
Processing chokepoint — China's share of that step
Mineral
Raw ore
Intermediate
Refined product
End use
Lithium
mined: Australia · Chile
Spodumene / brine
Carbonate / hydroxide
Cathode (NMC · LFP)
Li-ion battery
Cobalt
mined: DR Congo ~75%
Cu–Co ore
Cobalt hydroxide
Cobalt sulfate
NMC cathode → cell
Nickel
mined: Indonesia ~50%
Laterite / sulfide
MHP / matte
Nickel sulfate
Cathode · steel
Graphite
mined: China ~70%
Flake / synthetic
Spherical graphite
Coated anode
Battery anode
Rare earths
mined: China ~60%
Bastnäsite / monazite
Mixed RE oxide
Separated → NdFeB
Permanent magnets
Copper
mined: Chile · Peru · DRC
Copper ore
Concentrate
Refined cathode
Wire · motors
Manganese
mined: S. Africa · Gabon
Manganese ore
Ferromanganese
Hi-purity sulfate
Steel · LMFP
Read each row left → right.Read each mineral top → bottom. Mining is spread across many countries;
the controlling step is almost always midstream — where China holds the dominant share.
the controlling step is almost always midstream — where China holds the dominant share.