Central Asia’s Role in Critical Mineral Supply Chains Expands

Central Asia's vast reserves of critical minerals, including copper, lithium, and nickel, offer both opportunities and challenges amid rising global demand. With China controlling 60% of global production and over 85% of processing capacity, Western nations seek to diversify their supply chains, making Central Asia a strategic alternative.

Recent Chinese restrictions on antimony exports highlight the stakes. The U.S. currently sources 63% of its antimony from China, while Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan hold significant reserves but export most of their output to China due to limited infrastructure. Western nations, including the UK, EU, and U.S., are actively engaging Central Asian governments to secure CRM partnerships, with agreements signed with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Modernizing exploration and increasing local processing capacities remain crucial challenges. Much of Central Asia’s geological data is outdated, and extraction efforts face institutional and regulatory hurdles. Expanding regional value chains, such as processing Kyrgyzstan’s titanium in Kazakhstan, could enhance economic returns and regional integration.

As global competition for CRMs intensifies, Central Asia must navigate between external interests and its own long-term development. The region’s ability to modernize exploration, improve governance, and build processing capacity will determine whether its resource wealth drives sustainable growth or reinforces dependency.