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Open in the explorerOrganisations (15)Events

Production, refining and reserves

CommodityMetricValueWorld rank · shareSource
CopperRefinery production 2025610,000 t Cu content#9 · 2%USGS MCS 2026
NickelRefinery production 202346,500 t Ni content (primary nickel products)#11 · 1%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (nickel, tables-only release), table 12
Graphite (natural)Mine production 2025500 t natural graphite#15 · 0%USGS MCS 2026
Graphite (natural)Reserves 20251.8 million t natural graphite#13 · 0.6%USGS MCS 2026
GalliumRefinery production 20243,000 kg Ga content—USGS MCS 2025
ZincMine production 20231,000 t Zn content#48 · 0%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (zinc, tables-only release), table 16
MolybdenumMine production 2025500 t Mo content#15 · 0.2%USGS MCS 2026
MolybdenumReserves 20258,000 t Mo content#14 · 0%USGS MCS 2026
ThoriumResources 20146,000 t Th—OECD-NEA/IAEA Red Book 2014 (Uranium 2014), Table 1.17
BismuthRefinery production 20251,000 t Bi (refined metal)#2 · 6%USGS MCS 2026
IndiumRefinery production 2025180 t In (refined)#2 · 16%USGS MCS 2026
RheniumMine production 20253,000 kg Re content#6 · 4%USGS MCS 2026
Magnesium metalRefinery production 201810,000 t primary magnesium metal (smelter production)—USGS MCS 2019
CadmiumRefinery production 20254,300 t Cd metal#2 · 19%USGS MCS 2026
SulfurRefinery production 20253.1 million t S content#9 · 4%USGS MCS 2026
LimeRefinery production 20255 million t lime#7 · 1%USGS MCS 2026
FeldsparMine production 20251 million t feldspar#7 · 3%USGS MCS 2026
FeldsparReserves 2025200 million t feldspar—USGS MCS 2026
KaolinMine production 2009900,000 t kaolin—USGS MCS 2010
DiatomiteMine production 2025120,000 t diatomite#7 · 5%USGS MCS 2026
DiatomiteReserves 20252.2 million t diatomite—USGS MCS 2026
Mica (scrap and flake)Mine production 202515,000 t scrap and flake mica#5 · 4%USGS MCS 2026
Mica (scrap and flake)Reserves 202512 million t scrap and flake mica—USGS MCS 2026
Sand and gravel (industrial)Mine production 20201.3 million t industrial sand and gravel—USGS MCS 2021
Talc and pyrophylliteMine production 2025300,000 t talc and pyrophyllite#6 · 4%USGS MCS 2026
Talc and pyrophylliteReserves 202581 million t talc and pyrophyllite—USGS MCS 2026
Zeolites (natural)Mine production 2025160,000 t natural zeolites#3 · 12%USGS MCS 2026

Policies and export measures

Policy tracker →

  • 2026-09-23 · stockpile

    First Critical Mineral Stockpile Plan (2026–2035) and expansion of designated critical minerals from 38 to 51

    The Resource Security Council adopted the first Resource Security Basic Plan, a critical-mineral designation plan expanding the list from 38 to 51 minerals (adding ten rare earths, fluorspar, phosphorus and germanium), and the first statutory critical-mineral stockpile plan for 2026–2035. The stockpile plan widens stockpiled items from 24 to 29 and raises targets for vulnerable minerals from 180 days up to 365 days.

    Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry (산업통상부), via korea.kr policy news

  • 2025-02-07 · stockpile

    National Resource Security Special Act (국가자원안보 특별법) in force; Resource Security Council launched

    The National Resource Security Special Act took effect, creating a Resource Security Council chaired by the industry minister as the government's resource-security control tower, with powers over core-resource designation, stockpile plans and crisis response. At its first meeting in December 2025 the council designated 18 core supplier and 20 core demand institutions for critical minerals, oil, gas and uranium and set plans to expand critical-mineral stockpiles and support recycling.

    Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry (산업통상부), via korea.kr

  • 2024-06-27 · incentive

    Framework Act on Supply Chain Stabilization for Economic Security takes effect; first Supply Chain Stabilization Committee

    The Framework Act on supporting supply-chain stabilisation for economic security entered into force, establishing a government-wide Supply Chain Stabilization Committee chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy. At its first meeting the committee expanded economic-security items from about 200 to about 300, planned a KRW 5 trillion supply-chain fund for leading firms in 2024, more public stockpiling, and easier conditions for the overseas-resource acquisition tax credit to support mineral sourcing.

    Source: Ministry of Economy and Finance et al. (joint release), via korea.kr

  • 2023-02-27 · stockpile

    Critical Minerals Securing Strategy (핵심광물 확보전략): 33 critical and 10 strategic minerals, 100-day stockpile target

    MOTIE designated 33 critical minerals and 10 priority strategic ones (lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite and five rare earths) and set goals of cutting dependence on any single country to around 50% and raising recycling to around 20% by 2030. Measures include raising public stockpiles from 54 to 100 days of supply with a rapid-release mechanism, an early-warning system, reinstating an overseas-resource investment tax credit, expanded public financing and recycling support.

    Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), via korea.kr

Trade in critical minerals

Exports 2024$8.7 bn

  1. Copper$3.2 bnto China 82%, Taiwan 7%, Vietnam 5% · 34 more
  2. Molybdenum$1.1 bnto Netherlands 23%, China 15%, Indonesia 13% · 47 more
  3. Zinc$1.1 bnto India 24%, Vietnam 20%, Taiwan 9% · 46 more
  4. Aluminium$886 mto Vietnam 27%, China 22%, Mexico 7% · 47 more
  5. Nickel$623 mto China 58%, Japan 19%, Finland 9% · 29 more
  6. Lead$554 mto India 33%, United States of America 23%, Vietnam 22% · 25 more
  7. Palladium$197 mto United States of America 50%, United Kingdom 13%, Canada 13% · 7 more
  8. Platinum$146 mto United States of America 42%, Japan 20%, United Kingdom 16% · 8 more

and 37 more commodities

Imports 2024$29 bn

  1. Copper$10 bnfrom Chile 28%, Indonesia 11%, Dem. Rep. Congo 9% · 111 more
  2. Aluminium$5.7 bnfrom Australia 19%, Russia 15%, India 11% · 133 more
  3. Lithium*$2.2 bnfrom China 64%, Chile 23%, Australia 5% · 47 more
  4. Lead$1.9 bnfrom Mexico 37%, Australia 15%, Peru 12% · 40 more
  5. Zinc$1.6 bnfrom Mexico 27%, Australia 15%, United States of America 14% · 33 more
  6. Nickel$1.3 bnfrom Indonesia 23%, New Caledonia 18%, Australia 11% · 44 more
  7. Molybdenum$1.1 bnfrom Mexico 28%, Chile 24%, China 20% · 21 more
  8. Silicon$738 mfrom China 45%, United States of America 10%, Malaysia 10% · 30 more

and 38 more commodities

Trade values in current US dollars (ores, concentrates, intermediates, chemicals and refined metal), not prices. * Includes HS codes that also cover other products. Source: CEPII BACI (HS22), Etalab Open Licence 2.0 — details.

Fiscal regime for mining

InstrumentApplies toRateLegal basis
Corporate income tax (mining)All mineralsMarginal scale for domestic corporations: 10% up to KRW 200 million; 20% from KRW 200 million to 20 billion; 22% from KRW 20 billion to 300 billion; 25% above KRW 300 billion. Corporations under Art. 60-2(1)(1) (passive real-estate/rental companies): 20% up to KRW 20 billion, 22% to 300 billion, 25% above. No mining-specific rate; local income tax is levied separately (not read)10-25 sliding scale과세표준 (tax base of each business year's income)법인세법 (Corporate Tax Act), as amended by Act No. 21217 of 23 Dec 2025 · Art. 55(1)in force 2025-12-23

Rates and terms as set in the cited law or regulation; agreements with individual projects can differ. Not legal or tax advice.

Deals and financing (9)

  1. 2026-07-15 · Offtake · signed

    Global Tungsten & Powders → Almonty Industries · Sangdong tungsten mine

    Almonty extended its Sangdong tungsten concentrate offtake with Global Tungsten & Powders from 15 to 21 years and raised contracted volume by 40% to 4.41 million MTU at improved pricing.

    official release

  2. 2025-09-09 · Acquisition · signed

    Toyota Tsusho Corporation → Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt · LG-HY BCM cathode active material plant (Gumi, Korea; LG Chem-Huayou JV)

    Toyota Tsusho signed a share transfer agreement with Huayou to acquire 25% of LG-HY BCM, the LG Chem-Huayou joint venture making cathode active materials for automotive batteries in Gumi, South Korea.

    official release

  3. 2025-06-05 · Project finance · signed · KRW 9000

    Korea Development Bank → Australian Strategic Materials · Korean Metals Plant (Ochang)

    ASM refinanced its Korea Development Bank facility for the Korean Metals Plant into a secured loan of up to KRW 9 billion after a KRW 3 billion repayment.

    official release

  4. 2025-05-07 · Offtake · signed

    Tungsten Parts Wyoming, Inc.; Metal Tech → Almonty Industries · Sangdong tungsten mine

    Almonty signed a binding offtake with US defense contractor Tungsten Parts Wyoming and Israeli processor Metal Tech for at least 40 t a month of tungsten oxide, exclusively for US defense uses.

    official release

  5. 2023-06-21 · Joint venture · signed · KRW 1.09696e+06

    CNGR Advanced Material (Zhongwei HK Hongchuang) → POSCO Future M Co., Ltd. · 110 kt/y high-nickel precursor plant, Pohang

    CNGR and POSCO Future M signed a joint venture agreement for a 110,000 t/y high-nickel cathode precursor plant in Pohang with total investment of about KRW 1.097 trillion; CNGR holds 80%.

    official release

  6. 2023-06-21 · Joint venture · signed · KRW 410000

    CNGR Advanced Material (Zhongwei HK Xingchuang) → POSCO Holdings Inc. · Nickel refinery, Pohang

    CNGR and POSCO Holdings signed a joint venture agreement to build a nickel refinery in Pohang, Korea, with fixed investment of about KRW 410 billion; CNGR holds 40% and POSCO 60%.

    official release

  7. 2023-05-03 · Joint venture · announced

    Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt → POSCO Future M Co., Ltd. · Nickel sulphate refinery and precursor plant, Pohang Bluevalley

    Huayou and POSCO Future M signed a non-binding investment MoU with Gyeongbuk province and Pohang city to build a nickel sulphate refinery and precursor plant in the Pohang Bluevalley industrial complex.

    official release

  8. 2023-04-19 · Joint venture · announced

    Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt → LG Chem Ltd. · Battery materials (metal sulphate and precursor) plant, Saemangeum national industrial complex

    Huayou and LG Chem signed a non-binding investment MoU with Saemangeum authorities and Gunsan city to set up a metal sulphate and precursor plant in Korea's Saemangeum industrial complex.

    official release

  9. 2023-02-27 · Project finance · signed · US$460 m

    Korean government-owned banks → POSCO Pilbara Lithium Solution Co. (POSCO / Pilbara Minerals JV) · Gwangyang 43 ktpa lithium hydroxide plant

    The POSCO-Pilbara Minerals downstream joint venture signed a KRW 600 billion (about USD 460 million) loan from Korean state-owned banks to fund the balance of its 43 ktpa lithium hydroxide plant in Gwangyang.

    official release

Mines and facilities (5)

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