Netherlands depends on China for critical minerals in tech industry
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A Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics report highlights the crucial need for the Netherlands' reliance on China for eight critical minerals.
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Chinese astrophysicist Cao Zhen stands near a metal lid covering equipment to detect muon particles originating from outer space at the Large High-Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) at Haizi Mountain near Daocheng in southwestern China's Sichuan Province, Friday, November 8, 2019 (AP)
The Netherlands is heavily dependent on China for the supply of eight raw materials considered critical to the high-tech industry, the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reported on Monday.
According to CBS, there are eight critical minerals that the Netherlands imports primarily from China: barite, bismuth, cobalt, magnesium, manganese, strontium, tantalum, and fluorspar. These minerals are essential for advanced technologies, making China the top supplier of critical raw materials to the Netherlands.
“China was the leading supplier of eight critical raw materials to the Netherlands in 2024. When it comes to imports of products containing critical raw materials and the extraction and processing of critical raw materials, China plays a major role,” the CBS report said.
The eight critical minerals are widely used in the high-tech industry, including in laptops, tablets, smartphones, solar panels, and computer components. Their importance makes the supply chain highly strategic for the Dutch economy, which depends on advanced manufacturing and innovation.
China’s dominant role in supply chains
China not only provides the raw minerals themselves but also exports a significant share of products containing these materials. In 2024, the value of such exports to the Netherlands reached 58.4 billion euros ($67 billion), underscoring Beijing’s central role in global supply chains.
The CBS emphasized that this reliance on Chinese imports creates vulnerabilities for the Netherlands. As the demand for renewable energy, electronics, and high-tech equipment grows, the country’s dependence on China for critical minerals has major implications for both economic stability and industrial competitiveness.
China's position as a global raw materials leader was also brought into light in places like the United States, where a Wall Street Journal report in August states that restrictions caused by increased tariffs led the US defense industry to slow production and attempt to find different suppliers.
