Ukraine’s Mineral Wealth Could Reshape Global Supply Chains

Ukraine holds 23 of the 50 strategic materials identified as critical by the U.S. and 26 of the 34 recognized by the EU. Key resources include titanium, graphite, lithium, beryllium, and rare earth elements (REEs), essential for aerospace, defense, energy storage, and semiconductor manufacturing.

Titanium and beryllium are crucial for aerospace and defense. Ukraine has Europe’s largest titanium reserves and ranks among the top five globally in rutile deposits. However, it lacks domestic melting capacity. The country also has the Perzhansk beryllium deposit, with reserves sufficient for over 20 years of global production.

Lithium and graphite are essential for battery production. While Ukraine’s lithium reserves are modest globally, they constitute a third of Europe’s known deposits. Graphite deposits are more developed, with Australian, Turkish, and Ukrainian firms investing in their extraction and processing.

REEs, tantalum, and niobium are found in several Ukrainian deposits, some of which are in Russian-occupied territories. The country also has germanium, gallium, and silicon resources, historically used in semiconductor production. Restoring these industries requires significant investment and modern technology.

To develop these resources, Ukraine is working to attract foreign capital and create a favorable regulatory environment. Recent investments from Australian, Turkish, and Azerbaijani firms, along with agreements with the EU and NATO partners, highlight growing international interest. A strategic partnership with the U.S. could accelerate Ukraine’s integration into high-tech global supply chains.