"We're Already in Deficit”: The Critical Minerals Crisis No One's Talking About - Amanda van Dyke

Global demand for metals and minerals has doubled over the past 25 years, yet the European Union has paradoxically reduced its mining capacity by 40%, exacerbating critical supply-demand imbalances. Amanda van Dyke, founder of the Critical Minerals Hub, emphasizes that the energy transition is fundamentally a mineral transition, requiring significantly higher output to sustain modern economic development. China’s strategic control over 60% of global mineral supply chains and nearly 90% of specific essential inputs like rare earths, tungsten, and antimony creates significant geopolitical leverage, potentially triggering trade wars. Investors should navigate this volatile landscape by focusing on low-cost producers in stable jurisdictions rather than relying on government-mandated price floors, which serve only as temporary measures to secure domestic supply chains. Ultimately, the persistent mismatch between rapid demand growth and the slow, capital-intensive nature of mining projects remains a primary systemic risk.