China’s proportion of refining output of the IEA’s top 20 electrification metals | Report | Rhodium Group

The country’s dominant position in metals supply chains is not only in electrified metals and rare earths but also in other minor metals like scandium, tungsten, and antimony which are integral to advanced technologies in aerospace and semiconductor supply chains.

While a part of China’s dominant position in supply chains comes from natural endowments, the network effects associated with the greater processing ecosystem and demands of downstream manufacturing also play a key role.

China is the largest refiner of major metals, producing about half of the world’s steel and aluminum, and is a large refiner of major metals such as tin, zinc, and lead.