Rare earth resources Photo: VCG

China's Ministry of Natural Resources said on Wednesday that 14 types of minerals in China, including rare earths, tungsten, tin, molybdenum, antimony, gallium, germanium, indium, fluorite, and graphite, rank first in the world in terms of reserves at the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period. 

China ranks among the top four in the world in terms of reserves of nine minerals, including coal, iron, manganese, titanium, lithium, zinc, phosphorus, and magnesite, the ministry said. 

The significant increase in resource reserves directly stems from the systematic exploration and reserve expansion of critical and advantageous minerals under the strategic action for mineral exploration breakthroughs, laying a solid foundation for resource self-sufficiency and security, according to Xiong Zili, an official responsible for geological exploration and mining management department from the ministry on Wednesday. 

In 2025, China ranked first globally in the production of 17 minerals, including coal, vanadium, titanium, zinc, rare earths, tungsten, tin, molybdenum, antimony, gallium, indium, gold, and tellurium, the ministry said.

Among them, the output of 11 minerals—such as rare earths, tungsten, antimony, gallium, indium, and tellurium—accounted for over 50 percent of the global total, the ministry said.

The remarks were made at the regular press briefing held by the ministry, which introduces the achievements of China's new round of strategic mineral exploration breakthroughs.

In the smelting and processing stage, China's advantages are even more prominent. Manganese smelting products account for 99 percent of the global total, rare earth smelting products for 94 percent, aluminum for 60 percent, steel for 53 percent, and copper for 47 percent. 

More than 30 types of metallurgical products rank first in the world in terms of output, and 17 products account for around 50 percent of global output. 

This signifies that China is not only a major producer of mineral resources but also a dominant supplier and important leader in the global smelting and processing industry, ensuring the stability of China's industrial chains and strongly promoting the development of emerging industries, Xiong said. 

In 2025, China's mining industry output (including mining, beneficiation, smelting, and processing) reached approximately 32.7 trillion yuan ($4.78 trillion), accounting for 23.3 percent of the country's GDP, data from the ministry showed. 

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), the ministry vows to continue to deeply implement a new round of strategic mineral exploration breakthroughs. In terms of key priorities, the ministry will focus on critical strategic minerals in short supply, such as copper, iron, lithium, cobalt, and nickel, while consolidating the resource position of advantageous minerals including rare earths, tungsten, and tin, Xiong said. 

In terms of spatial planning, the ministry will enhance land-sea coordination, actively expand the space for survey, exploration, and development, and intensify foundational geological surveying efforts. 

The goal is to look for a batch of exploitable mineral deposits by 2030, enabling the rapid formation of new mineral production capacities, Xiong noted. 

Global Times