Aluminium is strategically important due to its versatility and unique combination of properties, including lightweight strength, corrosion resistance, conductivity and recyclability. It plays a key role in the green energy transition with uses in electronics, aerospace, and other advanced technologies. It is used in many products, including vehicles, construction, and packaging, which is driving growing global demand. Additionally, aluminium is crucial for the energy transition, with broad applications across solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles.

Uses

• Transportation: Aluminium is used in automobiles, aeroplanes, and other vehicles. Its lightweight nature is a major advantage in the automotive industry, enabling manufacturers to reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel efficiency, particularly in electric vehicles. 
• Construction: Aluminium is used extensively in building construction for windows, doors, roofing, building structures and cladding due to its durability, weather resistance, and aesthetic appeal.
• Packaging: Aluminium cans and foils are widely used for packaging due to their protective properties, lightweight, and recyclability.
• Electronics: Aluminium is used in electrical conduits, telephone cables, and other electrical components.
• Consumer goods: Aluminium is used in kitchenware, furniture, sporting goods, and other consumer products.
• Energy: Aluminium’s conductivity makes it a key material for electrical wiring, energy generation, power transmission infrastructure and storage technologies.
• Energy Transition: Aluminium’s role in solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles is growing, contributing significantly to the demand for the metal. 

Demand

• The International Aluminium Institute predicts that global demand for aluminium will increase by 40% by 2030. The Australian Aluminium Council expects global demand to nearly double by 2050.
• Developing nations are also experiencing increasing aluminium demand, driven by industrialization and infrastructure development. 

Recyclability

• There is a growing emphasis on sustainable aluminium production and recycling to minimise the environmental impact of aluminium consumption.

The value chain for the aluminium industry is illustrated below.

Tin is a versatile metal whose primary use today is in solders for joining and connecting electronic components in everything from consumer electronics to electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure, coatings for solar panels, and other sectors such as roofing and siding in the construction industry. 

Uses

• Electronics: Tin is used in electronic components and circuit boards due to its conductivity, low melting point and corrosion resistance. 
• Solder: Tin is the primary component in solder alloys used to join metal pieces, especially in electronics and plumbing.
• Chemicals: Tin is used as a stabiliser in PVC production and as a catalyst in the manufacture of plastics, polyurethanes, and other polymers. 
• Tin Plating: Tin is used to coat other metals to prevent corrosion, enhance conductivity and appearance. It is widely used in electrical components, automotive parts, and industrial hardware.
• Packaging: Tin is used to coat steel sheets to create tinplate, which is then used to make food cans and other containers to protect from spoilage.
• Batteries: Tin is used in lead-acid battery grids and terminals and also in some battery technologies like lithium-ion batteries as an anode stabiliser.
• Glass, Ceramics, and Sensors: Tin is used as a reducing and dyeing agent for glass, ceramics, and sensors.

Demand

• The International Tin Association projects that the tin market could face a supply deficit of 13,000 tons by 2030. 
• Electronics: Tin is crucial for soldering, a vital process in connecting electronic components, and this demand is expected to continue rising. 
• Clean Energy Transition: The shift towards renewable energy sources, including solar panels and electric vehicles, will further increase tin demand. 
• Semiconductors and Computing: The growing demand for semiconductors and computing power, including AI, is another factor driving tin demand. 

Recyclability

• Tin is recycled to the same quality due to its intrinsic properties and economic value. The use of recycled tin has varied between 30-35% over the last decade.

Niobium is primarily used as a micro-alloy in steel production, representing approximately 90% of global demand. This use significantly increases steel’s strength, weldability, and resistance to corrosion, making it crucial for infrastructure, automotive, and energy industries. Beyond steel, niobium is vital in superconductors, aerospace, and emerging technologies like advanced batteries.   

Uses

• Steel Industry: Niobium is added to steel as ferroniobium, a micro-alloy that greatly enhances the strength and durability of steel products. This is particularly important for: 
  • Infrastructure: Niobium-strengthened steel is used in bridges, buildings, and other construction projects, reducing material requirements and improving structural integrity. 
  • Automotive: It reduces the weight of vehicles, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. 
  • Oil and Gas Pipelines: Niobium’s strength and corrosion resistance are essential for pipelines operating under high pressure and in harsh environments.  
• Superconductors: Niobium is a key component in superconducting materials used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, magnetic levitation trains, particle accelerators and fusion research facilities.  
• Aerospace: Niobium alloys are used in rocket engine nozzles and jet engines, where they provide strength and performance at high temperatures and pressures. 
• Batteries: Niobium-modified lithium-ion batteries offer potential for faster charging, increased safety, and longer lifespans.
• Other Applications: Niobium also finds use in cutting tools, nuclear industries, electronics, and as a coating on glass.  

Demand

• Niobium’s unique properties make it a critical metal for a wide range of applications, and its demand is expected to continue growing, driven by increasing infrastructure development, advancements in battery technology, and the need for lighter, stronger materials in various industries. 

Recyclability

• Niobium is recyclable, but its recycling process is complex due to its properties and presence in various alloys consequently, current recycling rates are low. 

Tantalum is a valuable and versatile metal with high melting points, corrosion resistance, and good electrical and thermal conductivity. It is primarily used in electronics, particularly for capacitors in devices like smartphones and laptops, due to its excellent electrical properties and ability to form thin insulating layers. It is also used in high-temperature and corrosion-resistant components, as well as in medical implants and various industrial processes.

Uses

• Electronics: Tantalum is a key component in electrolytic capacitors, which are essential for stable and reliable electronic circuits. These capacitors are found in a wide range of devices, including smartphones, laptops, and other electronic equipment. 
• Alloys: Tantalum is added to alloys to enhance their strength, melting point, and resistance to corrosion and high temperatures. This is important for applications in aerospace and defence industries, such as jet engine components and high-temperature vacuum furnaces. 
• Chemical Processing: Tantalum’s corrosion resistance makes it suitable for use in heat exchangers, reactors, and other equipment in chemical processing plants. 
• Medical Applications: Tantalum’s biocompatibility and inertness make it useful for surgical implants, bone grafts, and dental implants. 

Demand

• Demand for tantalum is projected to grow, especially in the electronics sector, driven by miniaturisation trends and the increasing use of tantalum capacitors in high-end devices, together with increasing applications in aerospace and defence. 
• Tantalum is also used in emerging technologies like 3D printing for medical implants and advanced semiconductor manufacturing. 

Recyclability

• Tantalum recycling is crucial due to the limited availability of tantalum and its increasing demand in various industries. 
• Recycling processes, particularly from electronic waste, can recover tantalum for reuse in new products, contributing to a more sustainable supply chain.

Tungsten is a critical metal with diverse uses, primarily in cemented carbides for cutting and wear-resistant tools, and in high-temperature alloys for aerospace and other applications. Demand for tungsten is driven by the metalworking, mining, construction, aerospace, and defence industries. It’s also used in electronics, electrical contacts, and chemical compounds.  

Uses

• Cemented Carbides: Tungsten carbide is a key component of cemented carbides, which are widely used in tools for metalworking, mining, and construction. 
• Aerospace: Tungsten alloys are used in turbine blades, counterweights (e.g., in helicopter blades), and other high-temperature components.  
• Defence: Tungsten is crucial in armour-piercing munitions and other military applications.  
• Electronics and Electrical: Tungsten is used in filaments for light bulbs, electrical contacts, and as a component in electronic devices. 
• Strong and Dense Alloys: Tungsten is a key component of high-speed steels, tool steels, and superalloys used in various applications requiring strength, hardness, and wear resistance.  
• Other Applications: Tungsten is also used in chemical catalysts, pigments, high-temperature lubricants, and as a substitute for lead in bullets and shot. 

Demand

• Tungsten’s unique properties make it essential for a wide range of applications, and its demand is expected to remain strong in the coming years, driven by industrial growth and strategic uses like in defence, aerospace and semiconductor industries.
• The tungsten market is projected to grow, with a significant increase expected in the automotive and electronics industries. 
• There is a potential tungsten supply deficit in the coming years, which could drive up prices and impact industries that rely on tungsten. Political factors and supply chain diversification efforts also influence the tungsten market. 

Recyclability

• Tungsten is a limited resource, and its recycling offers both environmental and economic benefits, including resource conservation, reduced energy consumption, and waste minimisation.

Steel is a fundamental material used in many industries, including construction, transportation, and energy. It’s also used in consumer goods like appliances and furniture. 

• Construction: Steel is used in buildings, bridges, and infrastructure
• Transportation: Steel is used in cars, trucks, trains, and ships
• Energy: Steel is used in solar panels, wind turbines, dams, and electric vehicles
• Consumer goods: Steel is used in appliances, furniture, tools, and weapons.

• Global demand: Global demand for steel has increased more than threefold since 1970. Demand is expected to rise 30% by 2050.
• Factors affecting demand: Demand increases as economies grow, urbanize, and consume more goods.

• Energy intensive Steel production is energy intensive because it requires extracting iron from iron ore and turning it into steel.
• Fossil fuels More than 85% of the energy used in steel production comes from fossil fuels.
• Secondary steel production Secondary steel production using scrap is less energy intensive than primary steel production.

• Secondary steel production Secondary steel production can be nearly carbon-neutral if powered by renewable electricity.
• Primary steel production Primary steel production can be decarbonized through carbon capture, hydrogen, and electrochemistry.

Copper is a critical metal primarily used in electrical applications due to its excellent conductivity and resistance to corrosion. It is essential for building wiring, electronics, power systems, and transportation, including electric vehicles. Additionally, copper finds wide use in construction, plumbing, industrial machinery, and as a component in alloys like brass and bronze.

Uses

• Electrical: Copper’s high conductivity makes it ideal for electrical wiring in buildings, vehicles, and electronic devices, as well as for power transmission and generation. 
• Construction: Copper is a standard material in plumbing for water pipes due to its corrosion resistance and durability. It’s also used in roofing, flashing, and other building components. 
• Alloys: Copper is a key component in many alloys, including brass (copper and zinc) and bronze (copper and tin), which are used in various applications like piping, musical instruments, and decorative items. 
• Transportation: Copper is vital for electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and traditional vehicle components like radiators. 
• Other: Copper is used in coins, scientific instruments, and even as a fungicide in agriculture. In recent years, its role in emerging technologies, such as solar cells and battery energy storage systems, has continued to grow. 

Demand

• Global copper demand is projected to increase significantly in the coming decades, driven by the clean energy transition and digital infrastructure development, potentially exceeding 37 million tonnes by 2050, according to some estimates. 
• Growth is expected to outpace the mining industry’s ability to increase production, potentially creating a supply-demand imbalance. Industry analysts anticipate a potential supply deficit between 2025 and 2030, as demand outpaces supply, leading to price fluctuations and increased volatility.

Recyclability

• Copper recycling currently meets only a portion of the total demand.  
• Substantial investment in new mining projects and exploration will be crucial to avoid shortages.

Manganese is primarily used in the iron and steel industry, which consumes over 90% of the global manganese supply, to enhance strength, toughness, and wear resistance. Additionally, manganese is considered a critical mineral by numerous countries due to its important role in various technologies, including electric vehicle batteries.  It is also a key component in dry-cell batteries and plays a role in various non-ferrous alloys.

Uses

• Steel Production: Manganese is crucial for steel production, used to enhance hardness and strength, as well as a deoxidiser and an alloying element. It is used in various types of steel, including carbon steel, stainless steel, and high-temperature steel. For every tonne of steel produced, just under 1% manganese is used. 
• Batteries: Manganese dioxide (MnO₂) is a key component in dry-cell batteries, particularly alkaline batteries. Manganese is a crucial component in lithium-ion batteries, especially in nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) and lithium-manganese-iron-phosphate (LMFP) cathodes. 
• Alloys: Manganese is a vital alloying element with aluminium, magnesium, copper, and zinc, enhancing their properties. 
• Other Uses: Manganese finds applications in pigments for ceramics and glass, in the production of potassium permanganate (a disinfectant), and in fertilisers and animal feed due to its essential biological role for living organisms
  

Demand

• Steel production will remain the largest consumer of manganese however the battery sector is becoming a significant growth driver. 
• High-purity manganese, particularly electrolytic manganese metal (EMM) and manganese sulphate is in high demand for battery applications. CPM Group forecasts a 13-fold increase in high-purity manganese demand between 2021 and 2031. 

Recyclability

• Manganese recycling primarily occurs as a secondary process within the recycling of steel and aluminium, with approximately 12% of manganese in old scrap being recycled.