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Critical Minerals List for South Africa

Source: International Energy Agency
Last updated: 27 November 2025

South Africa released its Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy in May 2025, revising the 2022 critical minerals list through a multifactor analysis. Minerals were scored on indicators such as supply risk, reserves, production, processing capacity, and market conditions to guide national priorities and provide certainty for investors and trading partners. The list of critical minerals and metals will constantly be reviewed and updated as the criticality classification mix is dependent on underlying market conditions, technological advancement, substitutability, recycling and geopolitics, among other factors.

High-Criticality Minerals

  • Platinum
  • Manganese
  • Iron Ore
  • Coal
  • Chrome Ore

Moderate to High Criticality

  • Gold
  • Vanadium
  • Palladium
  • Rhodium
  • Rare Earth Elements*

Moderate Criticality

  • Copper*
  • Cobalt*
  • Lithium*
  • Graphite
  • Nickel*
  • Titanium
  • Phosphate
  • Fluorspar
  • Zirconium
  • Uranium*
  • Aluminium

*2025 additions 

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