CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS & FEEDSTOCKS
Critical Raw Materials & Feedstocks Factsheets
Explore selected Critical Raw Materials and key industrial feedstocks that support resilient European value chains, advanced technology uptake, and the transition towards a greener, more digital and competitive European industry.
Critical materials for resilient European value chains
The factsheets provide practical insights into selected Critical Raw Materials relevant to the project’s three industrial ecosystems. They highlight key applications, value-chain dependencies, supply risks, substitution options, market trends and potential alternative sourcing opportunities, helping companies better anticipate and respond to disruptions.
Feedstocks for resilient and sustainable industrial value chains
The feedstocks factsheets focus on petrochemicals from naphtha and natural gas, methanol and hydrogen. They outline their main industrial uses, value chains, production landscape, supply dependencies and future developments, while exploring alternative and lower-carbon pathways for more resilient and sustainable production.
Explore the selected Critical Raw Materials
Browse the materials below to discover the role of each Critical Raw Material, its main industrial applications and its relevance to European supply-chain resilience.
Each section provides a brief overview of the material and access to a dedicated downloadable extract from the complete factsheet, including key information on its value chain, supply risks, substitution opportunities and potential alternative sourcing channels.
Antimony (Sb)
Antimony is used in flame retardants, lead-acid batteries, alloys, plastics, PET catalysts and selected semiconductor applications. It is particularly relevant to fire safety, transport components and high-tech value chains, while its highly concentrated global supply may expose European companies to trade and geopolitical risks.
Arsenic (As)
Description
Bauxite/Aluminium (Al)
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Beryllium (Be)
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Cobalt (Co)
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Copper (Cu)
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Fluorspar (CaF₂)
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Gallium (Ga)
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Helium (He)
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Lithium (Li)
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Magnesium metal (Mg)
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Manganese (Mn)
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Natural graphite & graphene (C)
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Nickel (Ni)
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Platinum group metals (PGMs: Ir, Os, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru)
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Rare earth elements (REE)
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Scandium (Sc)
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Silicon metal (Si)
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Titanium (Ti)
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White phosphorous / elemental phosphorus (P)
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Explore the selected Feedstocks
Explore three key feedstocks that underpin the chemical industry and a wide range of downstream manufacturing value chains.
The sections below provide an overview of petrochemicals derived from naphtha and natural gas, methanol, and hydrogen, covering their industrial relevance, value chains, production landscape, supply dependencies and future development.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is both an essential industrial feedstock and a potential energy carrier. It is currently used mainly in refining, ammonia and methanol production, while renewable and low-carbon hydrogen could play an important role in industrial decarbonisation, sustainable fuels and new production processes.
Methanol
Methanol is a versatile chemical building block used in the production of formaldehyde, acetic acid, fuels, solvents and a wide range of chemical intermediates. Renewable and low-carbon methanol may also support the defossilisation of industry, transport and chemical value chains.
Petrochemicals - Naphtha and Natural Gas
Petrochemicals derived from naphtha and natural gas provide essential building blocks such as ethylene, propylene and aromatics. These are used to manufacture plastics, resins, synthetic fibres, rubbers, coatings and numerous materials required by the automotive, aerospace, electronics, energy and manufacturing sectors.
Building more resilient European value chains
Reliable access to raw materials and industrial feedstocks is essential for Europe’s competitiveness, strategic autonomy and green and digital transitions.
By summarising key applications, supply risks, sourcing alternatives and future market developments, the IDEALIST factsheets help SMEs identify vulnerabilities and strengthen their procurement strategies.
Download the complete factsheets below to explore the full analysis.