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Ranked: U.S. Import Reliance for 37 Critical Minerals
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Key Takeaways
- The U.S. is 100% import-reliant for 11 critical minerals, including graphite, gallium, and rare elements like scandium and yttrium.
- China remains the dominant supplier for several key materials, including rare earths, graphite, tantalum, and antimony.
The U.S. depends on foreign suppliers for many of the minerals that power semiconductors, EV batteries, defense systems, and nuclear energy.
The visualization below shows America’s net import reliance for 37 critical minerals in 2025, along with their leading suppliers between 2021 and 2024. The data comes from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Out of 37 critical minerals listed, 11 are 100% import-reliant, meaning the U.S. has no domestic production of them at all. Several others depend on foreign sources for more than half of supply.
China is a central supplier across the list, serving as the primary source for materials such as graphite, arsenic, tantalum, and yttrium.
Fully Import-Dependent Minerals
Some of the most strategically important materials are sourced entirely from abroad. Graphite and tantalum primarily come from China. Gallium is sourced mainly from Canada, while manganese comes largely from Gabon and niobium from Brazil.
Even specialty elements like scandium and yttrium, used in aerospace alloys and electronics, are 100% imported. This complete dependence leaves supply chains exposed to geopolitical risk and trade disruptions.
| Critical Mineral | Net Import Reliance | Primary Import Source |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 100% | China |
| Fluorspar | 100% | Mexico |
| Gallium | 100% | Canada |
| Graphite | 100% | China |
| Indium | 100% | South Korea |
| Manganese | 100% | Gabon |
| Niobium | 100% | Brazil |
| Scandium | 100% | Japan |
| Tantalum | 100% | China |
| Yttrium | 100% | China |
| Titanium | 100% | Japan |
| Uranium | 99% | Kazakhstan , Canada , Russia |
| Potash | 92% | Canada |
| Bismuth | 92% | China |
| Antimony | 91% | China |
| Platinum | 89% | South Africa |
| Chromium | 79% | South Africa |
| Cobalt | 79% | Norway |
| Tin | 77% | Peru |
| Silver | 77% | Mexico |
| Barite | >75% | India |
| Magnesium | >75% | Israel |
| Rhenium | 75% | Chile |
| Zinc | 73% | Canada |
| Rare earths | 67% | China |
| Aluminum (Bauxite) | 60% | Canada |
| Copper | 57% | Chile |
| Palladium | 57% | South Africa |
| Germanium | >50% | Belgium |
| Lithium | >50% | Chile |
| Tungsten | >50% | China |
| Silicon | >50% | Brazil |
| Nickel | 41% | Canada |
| Vanadium | 41% | Canada |
| Lead | 33% | Canada |
| Tellurium | >25% | Canada |
| Zirconium | <25% | South Africa |
Uranium, critical for nuclear energy, is 99% import-reliant, with Kazakhstan, Canada, and Russia serving as the main suppliers.
China’s Outsized Role
China plays a central role in America’s mineral supply chain. It is the primary source of arsenic, graphite, tantalum, yttrium, antimony, and rare earth compounds and metals.
Rare earths are especially vital for clean energy technologies and defense systems. While U.S. import reliance for rare earths stands at 67%, China still dominates global processing capacity.
This concentration creates strategic vulnerabilities, particularly as global competition for battery materials and advanced electronics intensifies.
Energy Transition and Industrial Metals
Beyond niche elements, the U.S. also relies heavily on imports for industrial and energy-transition metals. Lithium (over 50% import-reliant) is sourced primarily from Chile. Cobalt (79%) is mainly imported from Norway, while nickel (41%) and zinc (73%) depend largely on Canada.
Even aluminum (bauxite) has a 60% import reliance, mostly from Canada. Copper, essential for electrification, is 57% import-reliant, with Chile as the leading supplier.
As demand for EVs, grid infrastructure, and clean energy systems rises, securing stable supplies of these materials will remain central to U.S. industrial and energy strategy.
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