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SECTION 02-B · TRADE RESTRICTIONS & SECONDARY RECOVERY (USGS MCS 2026)

Foreign Export Controls, Price Growth & Secondary Recycling

Compiled from the special industry trend tables in U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: active foreign export bans and licensing regimes (`Table 4`), critical mineral price growth rates (`Figure 10`), and secondary scrap recovery (`Figure 13`).

Active Foreign Export Controls & Raw Ore Bans (19 Jurisdictions)

Country Measure Type Covered Mineral Commodities & Effective Year Official Reference
Angola Export ban Quartz and gypsum (2024). Policy Source ↗
Botswana Export ban Raw diamonds (2025). Policy Source ↗
Indonesia Export ban Bauxite (2023), copper concentrates (2023), and nickel ore (2020). Policy Source ↗
Laos Export ban Raw minerals, including copper, gold, iron, nickel, potassium, silver, and zinc (2024). Policy Source ↗
Malaysia Export ban Raw rare earths (2024). Policy Source ↗
Namibia Export ban Ores and concentrates of cobalt, graphite, lithium, manganese, and rare earths (2023). Policy Source ↗
Russia Export ban Steel waste and scrap, tungsten scrap, and enriched uranium (2022). Policy Source ↗
Tajikistan Export ban Metal waste and scrap (2020). Policy Source ↗
Tanzania Export ban Ore concentrates of copper, gold, nickel, and silver (2017). Policy Source ↗
Thailand Export ban Natural sand (2023). Policy Source ↗
Venezuela Export ban Bauxite, cassiterite, columbite-tantalite, copper, gold, rhodium, silver, and thorium (2024). Policy Source ↗
Vietnam Export ban Raw materials of iron, lead-zinc, chromite, manganese, apatite, and rare earths and deeply processed titanium (2012). Policy Source ↗
Zimbabwe Export ban Lithium ore (2022). Policy Source ↗
China Export licensing requirement for materials and technologies Antimony (2024), bismuth (2025), synthesized diamond (2025), gallium (2023), germanium (2023), graphite (2023), indium (2025), magnesium materials (2024), molybdenum (2025), rare earths (2025), silver (2026), tellurium (2025), tungsten (2025), and items related to lithium batteries and artificial graphite anode materials (2025). Policy Source ↗
Congo (Kinshasa) Export quota Cobalt (2025). Policy Source ↗
Morocco Export licensing requirement Copper (refined and alloys) and aluminum ingots (2025). Policy Source ↗
South Africa Export licensing requirement Chromite ore (2025). Policy Source ↗
Armenia Temporary export ban Metal waste and scrap (2025). Policy Source ↗
Kyrgyzstan Temporary export ban Ferrous ingot and ferrous metal waste and scrap (2023) and catalysts and waste containing precious metals (2025). Policy Source ↗

U.S. Critical Mineral Secondary Scrap & Recycling Value (2025 Estimates)

Recycled Material 2025 Scrap Value ($M USD) Domestic Share (%) Imported Share (%) Exported Share (%)
Antimony $191M 99.7% 0.3% 0.0%
Lead $2,460M 95.3% 0.2% 4.5%
Tin $330M 93.3% 4.5% 2.2%
Zinc $488M 88.1% 3.7% 8.2%
Nickel $2,440M 79.9% 14.4% 5.7%
Gold $12,100M 78.6% 4.0% 17.4%
Iron and Steel $25,000M 70.4% 7.9% 21.7%
Magnesium Metal $281M 64.2% 35.6% 0.2%
Cobalt $68M 58.8% 29.4% 11.8%
Platinum-group metals $4,980M 57.5% 23.2% 19.3%
Aluminum $12,500M 50.4% 16.0% 33.6%
Silver $3,350M 40.1% 6.8% 53.0%
Chromium $977M 35.5% 32.3% 32.3%
Copper $7,890M 21.6% 10.0% 68.4%
Titanium $287M 2.7% 73.5% 23.8%

Critical Mineral Benchmark Price Growth Rates (2021-2025)

Priced Mineral / Form 2024-2025 Annual Change (%) 2021-2025 Compound Annual Growth (CAGR %) USGS Pricing Notes
Aluminum, bauxite +3% +1% Average annual unit value of imports.
Antimony, metal +144% +47% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Arsenic, metal -6% +14% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Barite 0% +6% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Beryllium +7% +24% Average annual unit value of imports.
Bismuth +270% +52% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Boron -6% +8% Average annual unit value of imports.
Cerium, oxide +41% +3% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Chromium, chromite ore -12% +10% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Cobalt (U.S. spot cathode) +27% -10% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Copper (LME) +6% +1% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Dysprosium, oxide -7% -13% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Europium, oxide 0% -3% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Erbium, oxide +7% +6% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Fluorspar, acid grade +1% +10% Average annual unit value of imports.
Fluorspar, metallurgical grade +19% +28% Average annual unit value of imports.
Gadolinium, oxide +7% -11% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Gallium +32% +20% Average annual unit value of imports.
Germanium, metal +106% +36% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Graphite, natural, flake -5% -7% Average annual unit value of imports.
Holmium, oxide +4% -16% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Indium (Rotterdam) +22% +15% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Iridium -9% -4% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Lanthanum, oxide +3% -10% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Lead -3% -2% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Lithium, battery-grade lithium carbonate -24% -6% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Lutetium, oxide +14% +2% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Magnesium, metal (U.S. spot Western) -9% -2% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Manganese -19% -4% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Neodymium, oxide +30% -7% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Nickel -11% -5% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Niobium, ferroniobium 0% +5% Average annual unit value of imports.
Palladium +11% -18% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Phosphate +4% +5% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Platinum +25% +2% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Potash, all products +4% +2% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Praseodymium, oxide +32% -6% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Rhenium, metal +91% +28% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Rhodium +24% -27% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Ruthenium +53% +5% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Samarium, oxide +40% +9% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Scandium, ingot 0% 0% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Silicon, metal -24% -12% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Silver +34% +11% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Tantalum +8% +3% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Tellurium (U.S.) +60% +15% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Terbium, oxide +24% -7% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Tin (New York dealer) +13% 0% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Titanium, sponge -10% +2% Average annual unit value of imports.
Tungsten, concentrate +51% +14% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Vanadium, vanadium pentoxide -8% -11% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Yttrium, oxide +7% 0% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Ytterbium, oxide +50% +11% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Zinc (LME) +3% -1% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.
Zirconium, sponge -8% -3% Price source is only included for those commodities that have multiple price sources in their Salient table. For those commodities with a single price source, please refer to that commodity chapter's Salient table.