Mexico is key in 10 critical minerals for the US

Mexico has a relevant position in the production of at least 10 minerals on the list of critical resources of the United States, in a context in which both countries have formalized a bilateral action plan to strengthen the supply chains of these inputs.

Mexico occupies first place in the world in silver production, second in fluorite, fifth in barite and molybdenum; sixth in magnesium and zinc; seventh in lead and gold; tenth in copper, twelfth in manganese and fifteenth in graphite.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer recently announced the promulgation of the U.S.-Mexico Action Plan on Critical Minerals, a mechanism that addresses the identification of minerals of mutual interest, the exploration of adjusted minimum border prices, and consultations to incorporate these elements into an eventual binding plurilateral agreement.

The Ministry of Economy indicated that cooperation will be developed in accordance with national legislation and within the framework of the country’s sovereignty, with a view to the joint review of the USMCA scheduled for 2026.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) defines critical minerals as those that are essential to the economy and national security and have supply chains that are vulnerable to disruption. Its list includes 60 elements that have use in more than 230 sectors of the economy, from energy infrastructure to advanced technology manufacturing, and from aerospace engineering to medical equipment.

Data from the 2025 Annual Report of the Mexican Chamber of Mining, with figures from 2024, show that the country participates directly in the supply of critical minerals, although there is also a considerable number that is not produced in our country.

For example, fluorspar production reached 1.5 million tons in 2024, an increase of 29.5 percent annually. Mexico remains one of the main world producers of this input used in the chemical, metallurgical industry and in applications linked to batteries.

In manganese, carbonate production was 800 thousand tons; nodules and sinter totaled 423 thousand tons; dioxide and oxide, 13 thousand tons, and ferroalloys, 186 thousand tons. The country is a world producer 12.

In lead and copper, it is one of the main global suppliers, while silver – used in electronic applications and clean technologies – is one of the pillars of the national mining sector.

Of graphite, strategic for energy storage, production was 706 tons in 2024, concentrated in Sonora. And, although the volume is small compared to the main producers, the country has active extraction.

Molybdenum, industrial silicon and barite, used in manufacturing, energy and the oil industry, are added to place Mexico as a relevant supplier in North America.

Although the country participates in the supply of various critical minerals, it does not register relevant commercial production of lithium or rare earths, central inputs for batteries and electromobility.

In addition, it has limited production in nickel, cobalt and tin.