Latest Policy Research Report
Understanding the policies behind world’s most influential mineral economy.
China is not only the world’s largest producer of critical minerals such as rare earths, tungsten, and graphite — it is also a regulatory and geopolitical force in shaping the global mineral supply chain. This country report offers a detailed analysis of China’s mineral policy system, including its legal framework, industrial strategy, and investment landscape.
As the global transition to clean energy accelerates, China’s state-driven approach to mineral security, resource nationalism, and export controls has far-reaching implications. This report decodes the motivations, mechanisms, and markets behind China’s position at the center of the world’s mineral economy.
Essential for:
- Supply chain strategists and commodity analysts
- Institutional investors evaluating China exposure
- Policymakers seeking to benchmark mineral governance
- Companies engaging with or competing against Chinese resource players
Read more about the report
Purchase report
| China | |
|---|---|
| General: | >1.4 Billion inhabitants, 9.597.000 km²; GDP >17 Trill. US$; Mining: 2.4% (2020); GDP per Capita: $12,720.22. China is the world’s leading producer and consumer of many mineral commodities. Smelters produced 61.9 Mt of 10 nonferrous metals in 2023 — up 5.5% from 2019. |
| Policy Framework: | China's Mineral Policy (2003) emphasizes mineral security. In 2023, MNR launched a national prospecting campaign targeting strategic minerals in key geographic tracts. |
| Legal Framework: | The Mineral Resources Law (MRL), enacted in 1986 and amended in 1996 & 2009, governs mining prospection, extraction, and rights registration. |
| Responsible Ministry: | The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), established in 2018, manages natural resource assets and oversees national land space use and ecological protection. |
| Permitting Procedure: | Mining rights are split into prospection and extraction. Most licenses are issued via public bidding or tender. |
| Mining Potential: | China has abundant and diverse mineral resources including light and heavy rare earth, graphite, tungsten, antimony, lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and gold. |
| Reports: | China Dominates the Rare Earths Supply Chain |
Reports, blogs and news update
New report published: Navigate the United States’ mineral policy at the crossroads of security and innovation
MINRIS U.S. Mineral Policy Report offers deep insights into America’s evolving approach to critical minerals—a cornerstone of economic security, clean energy transition, and technological leadership. Available now for purchase This report is essential reading for...
Securing defense critical minerals: Challenges and U.S. strategic responses in an evolving geopolitical landscape
The growing dependence on critical minerals (CMs) for advanced military technologies presents significant and escalating challenges for the United States (U.S.) and its allies. As global competition intensifies and supply chains remain vulnerable to geopolitical...