Hambrox Ltd
7 Nov 2025
China's dominance of the critical minerals industry did not happen overnight. It was a result of careful long term strategic planning by the Chinese government across the supply chain spectrum.
China's critical minerals dominance stems from a combination of strategic government support, early and massive investment in processing, and the exploitation of lower production costs and less stringent environmental regulations. This has allowed China to build a comprehensive, end-to-end supply chain, from mining to refining, which gives it significant control over global supply and is considered a national security asset.
The following factors have contibuted to China's prominence in this industry.
Strategic government support and policy
Industrial policy
Financial and logistical support
Talent retention
Export control leverage
Investment and cost advantages
Early investment
Lower production costs
Environmental standards
End-to-end supply chain control
Global mining investments
Processing and refining dominance
Dominance across different sectors