China reports massive surge in 13 strategic mineral reserves
2026-11-04 11:00:12 [Print]
The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) announced on October 31 that China has completed resource re-evaluations of over 1,800 producing mines and large to medium-sized mining areas. The initiative mapped out the actual utilization of associated and low-grade resources across 17 strategic minerals, as well as the quantities available under current technological and economic conditions.
Following the evaluation, the national retained reserves of 13 minerals--including gallium, germanium, and indium--have increased significantly. For instance, rhenium reserves more than doubled. The newly added reserves of gold and nickel are equivalent to discovering 50 and 30 large deposits, respectively. Similarly, the added reserves of gallium, indium, tantalum, and vanadium each equate to more than 10 large deposits. This strongly supports the 14th Five-Year Plan's new round of strategic action for mineral exploration breakthroughs and lays a solid resource foundation for enhancing China's mineral resource security.
In addition, the 15th Five-Year Plan's mineral exploration is off to a strong start. A paleo-fluvial-lacustrine zircon placer--the first of its kind in China--was discovered in Baicheng, Xinjiang, which will greatly boost the country's self-sufficiency in zircon ore.
Following the evaluation, the national retained reserves of 13 minerals--including gallium, germanium, and indium--have increased significantly. For instance, rhenium reserves more than doubled. The newly added reserves of gold and nickel are equivalent to discovering 50 and 30 large deposits, respectively. Similarly, the added reserves of gallium, indium, tantalum, and vanadium each equate to more than 10 large deposits. This strongly supports the 14th Five-Year Plan's new round of strategic action for mineral exploration breakthroughs and lays a solid resource foundation for enhancing China's mineral resource security.
In addition, the 15th Five-Year Plan's mineral exploration is off to a strong start. A paleo-fluvial-lacustrine zircon placer--the first of its kind in China--was discovered in Baicheng, Xinjiang, which will greatly boost the country's self-sufficiency in zircon ore.
Zirconium Carbonate Zr(Hf)O2 40%min, Cl 0.2%max EXW China
Unit:RMB/mt
China fused zirconia producers' sales volume statistics by province by month
Unit: mt
