Industry says Germany must no longer ignore raw material supply risks for transition

German industry's dependence on raw materials from abroad has become “higher than ever” and urgently needs to be addressed as a priority in industrial policy, according to the country's industry association BDI. “This is a double risk for decarbonisation and for digitalisation,” BDI head Siegfried Russwurm told a conference on resource security organised by the lobby group. An analysis commissioned by the BDI found that a ban on lithium exports by China instantly could put up to 115 billion euros in value creation at risk in Germany, with the damage to the car industry alone amounting to 42 billion euros. China provided about half of Germany’s lithium import in 2024, compared to only 18 percent in 2014 – while the Asian country only controls a fifth of proven global resources. “Policymakers must do everything in their power to avoid such a scenario,” Russwurm said, arguing that while risks were obvious, “the pace of reaction is much too slow.”

Secure access to raw materials was a matter of national security, especially since autocratic governments increasingly started to use their resources for political blackmailing, Russwurm said. “Strictly market-based approaches don’t work in such an environment,” he added. In order to not fall behind in global supply chains, Germany and Europe had to urgently follow with countermeasures, including domestic mining and processing projects, expanding international partnerships, and improving resource recovery rates in recycling procedures. “Germany disposes of a large potential in mineral resources that so far remain neglectfully unused,” for example in two large lithium reserves that so far have remained largely untapped, Russwurm added. The BDI said that ten mines, 15 processing plants and 15 recycling plants are planned across Europe by 2030. “We’re facing important investment decisions and have to resolutely take them fast,” Russwurm said.

Raw materials such as cobalt, copper and lithium are key for energy transition technologies such as batteries for electric vehicles and wind turbines. Germany imports 39 of the 46 most relevant raw materials needed to achieve strategic targets in energy and industrial policy, according to a 2022 report. A secure and sustainable supply of these materials is key for the successful transition to a climate neutral economy, as well as to reduce dependencies and to strengthen competitiveness and resilience.