The U.S. has become more reliant on foreign imports of more than a dozen key minerals even as the government pumps billions of dollars into the sector, according to a new federal report.
The nation now relies solely on foreign imports for 16 critical minerals, and China is a top producer of at least half of those materials, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s annual mineral commodity summaries released Friday. That includes materials like natural graphite, titanium and manganese used in batteries, alloys, and other critical defense and energy technologies.
In comparison, the U.S. was reliant on just 15 minerals in 2024, the agency said. That shift is due to the U.S. becoming 100 percent reliant on imports of titanium sponge, which is used to make aircraft structures, engines and munition, according to USGS.
The U.S. is also reliant — but to a lesser extent — on imports for 54 nonfuel mineral commodities, USGS said. In addition to China, countries like Canada, Chile and Mexico were leading sources of imported metals and materials.
