Global trade faces major disruptions due to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the lingering effects of COVID-19, and strategic rivalries among global powers. These challenges have highlighted vulnerabilities in supply chains, particularly the West’s reliance on Russian-controlled infrastructure and Chinese exports. The rare earths sector is acutely affected, with China dominating 60% of upstream mining and 90% of midstream processing. China’s export restrictions on key materials like germanium, gallium, and graphite have led Western nations, including the UK, to boost cooperation on critical minerals projects. UK Export Finance now supports companies exporting these resources for UK manufacturing.
Kazakhstan, a strategic Middle Power, plays a vital role in ensuring rare earth supply chain resilience. The UK and Kazakhstan signed a 2024 roadmap to collaborate on critical minerals, leveraging Kazakhstan’s reserves of 18 essential minerals. Kazakhstan’s strategic neutrality and location within the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route position it as a key partner for the UK in diversifying supply chains and mitigating risks.
