The EU Critical Raw Materials Act was proposed in March 2023 and entered into force on 23 May 2024. It aims to build a secure and sustainable supply of raw materials that matter to the EU economy and carry a high supply risk.
2030 benchmarks
For strategic raw materials, the Act sets these benchmarks:
- Extract at least 10% of the EU’s annual consumption within the EU
- Process at least 40% within the EU
- Recycle at least 25%
- Limit any single non-EU country to 65% of annual consumption
Magnesium and magnesite
Magnesium is on the Act’s list of 34 critical raw materials. Magnesite appeared as a separate entry on the 2014 list but not on the 2023 list. World magnesium metal production is highly concentrated: according to USGS, about 950,000 of the roughly 1.1 million tonnes produced in 2025 came from China.
What it means for Turkish producers
European industry is working to reduce reliance on single sources of raw materials. As the world’s fourth-largest magnesite producer, Türkiye offers a nearby, established supply option. Traceable production, consistent analyses and reliable shipping are the keys to this opportunity.
Sources: Critical Raw Materials Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1252); USGS, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
