Australia Emerges as Strategic Engine in Quad’s Critical Minerals Push

July 04, 2025 02:46 PM AEST | By Team Kalkine Media

Australia Emerges as Strategic Engine in Quad’s Critical Minerals Push — Image source: Shutterstock

A Surge in Mineral Output

Despite market fluctuations, Australia continues to strengthen its critical minerals sector. Data for the 12 months ending March 2025 indicates a 15% year-on-year growth in lithium mine output, translating to a rise of 60,000 tonnes in lithium carbonate equivalent on a recoverable basis.

Simultaneously, Australia's economic inventories of several key minerals have expanded. Notable year-on-year increases include platinum group elements (+30%), graphite (+27%), lithium (+20%), niobium and vanadium (both +18%), manganese ore (+16%), and high-purity alumina (+14%). Other resources such as molybdenum, rare earths, tantalum, rutile, and bauxite have also seen stable growth ranging from 5–10%.

Major Australian-listed players in the sector, such as Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) and IGO Limited (ASX:IGO), are expected to remain integral to the country’s expanding influence in the global energy and technology transition space.

A Global Supply Hub

Australia is one of the few nations capable of supplying a broad array of critical minerals at scale. These include lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements, which are foundational to clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing. As nations push for net-zero targets, the strategic importance of reliable sources like Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC) and Mineral Resources Limited (ASX:MIN) becomes even more evident.

Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King has repeatedly emphasized that the pathway to a net-zero future is paved through Australia’s mineral sector, pointing to its role not only in production but also in setting global standards and best practices.

Securing Supply Chains

Following diplomatic discussions with Quad partners, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong flagged serious concerns around overdependence on single-source supply chains. These concerns stem from geopolitical risks such as economic coercion, price volatility, and the risk of disrupted access to essential minerals and processing technologies.

The Quad nations have collectively underscored the urgency of building diversified, transparent, and secure supply chains. Companies like Allkem Limited (ASX:AKE) and Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU) are expected to play crucial roles in this evolving international framework.

As strategic competition grows, Australia’s mining industry is not only reinforcing the nation's economic resilience but also fortifying its geopolitical value on the global stage.

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