China Leads Global Mineral Reserves and Production in 2025, Ministry Reports

BEIJING: China has secured the top global position in the reserves of 14 mineral types and the production of 17 minerals in 2025, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources of China.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, officials highlighted significant growth in the country’s mineral resource base during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025).

China now leads the world in reserves of key minerals such as rare earths, tungsten, tin, molybdenum, antimony, gallium, germanium, indium, fluorite, and graphite.The country’s dominance extends beyond reserves to industrial output.

China maintained its leading position in the production of 17 mineral categories, including coal, vanadium, titanium, zinc, gold, phosphorus, and rare earth elements. Notably, production of 11 of these minerals—such as rare earths, tungsten, antimony, gallium, indium, and tellurium—accounts for more than half of global supply.

China’s mining and metallurgical sectors continue to underpin its industrial strength. In 2025, the national mining industry generated an output value of approximately 32.7 trillion yuan (around $4.8 trillion), contributing about 23 percent to the country’s GDP.

Furthermore, China leads global production in over 30 metallurgical products, with 17 of them—such as manganese, aluminum, steel, copper, and rare earth materials—making up roughly half of total global output.

This reinforces China’s central role in global supply chains and its expanding influence across the industrial and manufacturing sectors.