Critical mineral downstream processing: Realistic lessons from global supply chains for Africa’s resource industrialisation

Based on 2025 statistics from the World Economic Forum and International Energy Agency, China has built mature refining capacity across nearly all core global critical minerals.

Split by industry categories, refined products for high-tech, AI and digital infrastructure account for striking global shares under Chinese processing. China produces 99% of global refined gallium, 85% of silicon, 77% of tellurium, 74% of antimony and germanium respectively, alongside 70% of indium and 46% of tantalum.

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