Geopolitical decisions and multibillion-dollar investments continued to shape global raw materials markets throughout the second quarter of 2026. TRADIUM’s Q2 2026 Market Report examines how governments and companies around the world are expanding their strategies to secure critical metals and what these efforts mean for supply chains, market availability and pricing.
Global competition for critical minerals intensified further in the second quarter of 2026. New export restrictions, strategic partnerships and large-scale investment programmes are reshaping the market landscape. The United States and Europe are investing in new mining and processing projects, expanding recycling capacity and strengthening domestic value chains to improve security of supply. At the same time, China is further consolidating its influence over the exploration, processing and export of strategic minerals.
Published jointly by TRADIUM and the industry news platform Rawmaterials.net, the Q2 2026 Market Report analyses these developments and explains why control over processing capacity and market access is becoming one of the key competitive advantages in global raw materials markets.
Highlights of the report:
Rare Earths & Technology Metals
China remains the dominant force in both supply and processing. The report examines the impact of new export controls, investments in alternative supply chains, and the persistent supply constraints affecting strategic metals.Precious Metals Under Pressure
Gold, silver and platinum group metals struggled throughout the second quarter as higher interest rates, a stronger US dollar and geopolitical developments weighed on the markets. The report examines the factors most likely to drive prices in the coming months.Politics as a Market Driver
The report shows how government policy — from new partnerships on critical minerals to multi-billion-dollar investment programmes and tighter export controls — is reshaping raw materials markets and global supply security.
Insights into Opaque Markets
As always, the TRADIUM Market Report offers practical insights into specialist raw materials markets, where much of the relevant data is not publicly available and often requires considerable expertise to interpret.
The Report Includes:
- A clear analysis of the main market drivers
- Practical assessment of political measures and their market impact
- Well-founded insights from experienced raw material experts at TRADIUM
The TRADIUM Market Report Q2 2026 is available as a free PDF download. For regular updates on developments across global raw materials markets, visit Rawmaterials.net.
