China’s Metal Resource Boom: Lithium, Rare Earths, and Copper Surge

China’s Metal Resource Boom: Lithium, Rare Earths, and Copper Surge

China has significantly expanded its metal resource discoveries between 2021 and 2024, according to the country’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). This surge features key nonferrous metals like lithium, copper, and rare earths. Consequently, China strengthens its position in the global metals market.

“China’s lithium production from its own resources increased by more than 30pc in 2024,” stated Xiong Zili, the ministry’s geological survey director. “This has made China a stabilizer in the international lithium feedstock market.”

Lithium Reserves Skyrocket

The nation’s “prospecting breakthrough strategic action,” launched in March 2021 by the MNR, has yielded substantial results. Specifically, a “world-class” spodumene metallogenic belt emerged in the West Kunlun-Songpan-Ganzi area. This belt holds a resource potential exceeding 30mn t. Furthermore, China discovered over 14mn t of new lithium resources from salt lakes, primarily in Qinghai province. As a result, China became the world’s third-largest lithium production hub from salt lake brines. Additionally, over 10mn t of lepidolite lithium ore resources were found in regions like Jiangxi province. China’s lithium reserves now account for 16.5pc of global reserves, up from 6pc, according to the MNR.

Rare Earths and Other Metals

New rare earth resources, as reported by the MNR, include 1.02mn t in the Chishan mining area and 4.96mn t in the Maoniuping rare earth mine. Moreover, a large ion-absorption rare earth mine was discovered in Honghe prefecture. This mine is likely China’s largest heavy and medium rare earth mine. Furthermore, China found 85,000t of zircon and over 1,000t of hafnium. Additionally, 53mn t of bauxite were found in the Wangjiazhai mine and 108mn t in Xiaoyi. These discoveries raised associated gallium resources by 144,500t. China extended mine service lives via technology. This added 3mn t of nickel, 1.5mn t of cobalt, and 2,800t of rhenium. Technological breakthroughs also revitalized 929,000t of niobium and 87mn t of titanium. Lastly, over 20mn t of new copper resources were found on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.