IEA – The Role of Traceability in Critical Mineral Supply Chains, 2025

The main theme of the report concerns the importance of traceability systems in critical mineral supply chains.

Key findings include the necessity to anticipate and mitigate potential harmful impacts of the mining and metallurgical sectors on societies, communities, and the environment. Traceability systems can help achieve policy goals by providing data on the origin, evolution, and ownership of minerals. For effective operation, traceability systems must be carefully designed, considering standardization, context, data quality, and supply chain complexity. Strong coordination between companies, governments, and civil society is needed, supported by joint funding, reliable verification, and secure data-sharing protocols.