China targets resource security with new two-year metals roadmap

China has rolled out a work plan to stabilize growth in the nonferrous metals industry for 2025-2026, as the world's largest metals producer seeks to enhance resource security and reduce dependence on volatile global supply chains amid mounting geopolitical tensions.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the two-year plan on Sept. 28, as China grapples with resource scarcity, insufficient high-value products, and weak domestic demand. The plan represents a strategic pivot toward self-reliance in critical materials, including copper, aluminum, and lithium.

The work plan, targeting 10 major initiatives, will also focus on strengthening supply capacity for value-added products and supporting low-carbon initiatives.

Focus on resource security

The new plan places significant emphasis on enhancing resource security at a time when nations are racing towards securing their own supply chains.

According to China's work plan, a new national exploration campaign will be implemented, ramping up prospecting for key resources including copper, lithium, and cobalt to secure new discoveries.

The process for awarding mining rights competitively will be refined to ensure focus is on scientific and commercial success.

Strengthening oversight of mining projects will bring ongoing projects online, expand output at producing sites, and launch new builds, the document said.

The plan outlined several measures regarding recycled non-ferrous metals, including establishing recycling bases and utilizing waste materials more efficiently.

This targets traditional scrap like copper and aluminum, as well as emerging solid wastes such as spent power batteries and decommissioned photovoltaic modules.

The plan will also support imports of recycled resources meeting Chinese standards, which include recycled copper, recycled aluminum, and battery black mass.

Moreover, alumina, copper smelting, and lithium carbonate projects will be planned rationally to avoid oversupply, the document showed.

China released separate development plans for aluminum, copper and gold earlier this year to drive high-quality growth in these sectors.