EC says trade deals supplied 25% of EU critical raw material supply in 2025

The EU's trade agreements are helping secure imports of critical raw materials and mineral products, with preferential partners supplying a quarter of the bloc's critical raw materials imports, the European Commission said in a report published Sept. 28.

The sixth Annual Report on the Implementation and Enforcement of EU Trade and Economic Security Policy, covering 2025, said the agreements were strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of European businesses by providing more stable sources of strategically important raw materials and energy products.

Although the total value of EU critical raw materials imports remained broadly stable in 2025, rising just 0.32% from the previous year, imports from several resource-producing trade partners increased sharply.

EU critical raw materials imports from Canada rose 62% in value terms between 2024 and 2025 to €3.3 billion ($3.74 billion), while imports from the Democratic Republic of Congo increased 79% to €2.9 billion, according to the report.

Canada and Chile, both resource-rich trading partners, have also supported increased EU imports of mineral products. Imports from Canada rose 14% over the same period to €6.1 billion. More than a quarter of the EU's mineral product imports now come from Canada, continuing an upward trend that began in 2022.

Since the EU-Chile Interim Trade Agreement entered into force in February 2025, EU imports of mineral products have increased by 33%, the Commission said.

The EU currently has 45 trade agreements covering 81 preferential trade partners. The Commission said agreements were concluded during 2025 and the first half of 2026 with Mercosur, Mexico, Indonesia, India, Australia, and the Indian Ocean states of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles.

The EU-Mercosur agreement has been provisionally applied since May 1, 2026.

The report said the agreements were also helping European companies access new export markets while creating a more predictable environment for trade and investment.

The announcement comes as the EU and other developed economies seek to diversify their critical mineral supply chains away from China through a combination of strategic measures, including diversifying their foreign supply sources, strengthening international collaboration and investing in domestic production and recycling initiatives.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed CIF Europe battery-grade lithium carbonate at $18,000/mt on Sept. 28, stable day over day and down $500 on the week. Lithium hydroxide was assessed at $18,500/mt, unchanged on the day and on the week.