EU moves to build tungsten and rare earths reserves

The European Union has identified tungsten, rare earths and gallium as initial targets for its first coordinated stockpile of critical minerals, as the bloc intensifies efforts to cut its reliance on China for materials vital to defence, semiconductors and the energy transition.

This initiative stands as one of Europe's most explicit actions to date to shield its economy from supply disruptions, following Beijing's tightening of export controls on several strategic minerals and technologies over the past two years.

Western governments increasingly regard China's overwhelming share of critical mineral processing as a geopolitical weakness that could jeopardise manufacturing, military readiness and the deployment of renewable energy.

The EU is also engaged in talks with major logistics hubs, including the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, about storing the proposed reserves, Reuters reported on May 20, 2026, citing people familiar with the matter. Rotterdam is Europe's largest port and a key gateway for industrial supply chains across the continent.

Magnesium is expected to be added to the priority list, while germanium and graphite are also likely to be included in the final selection, the report said. With the exception of magnesium, most of the minerals under consideration feature on NATO's list of materials deemed critical to defence production.

The metals in question are used in a wide array of products, from missiles and fighter jets to smartphones, electric vehicles and wind turbines. Rare earth magnets, in particular, have become a strategic concern because China controls the lion's share of both mining and processing capacity.
.Asian Metal Copyright Western governments increasingly regard China's overwhelming share of critical mineral processing as a geopolitical weakness that could jeopardise manufacturing, military readiness and the deployment of renewable energyAsian Metal Copyright