BRICS and the Global South Control the World's Most Critical Metals
Precious & Strategic Metals Controlled by BRICS + Global South
| Metal | Primary Uses | BRICS / Global South Countries That Dominate Supply |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Investment, jewelry, electronics, aerospace, medical devices | China (BRICS) – #1 producer; Russia (BRICS) – top 3; South Africa (BRICS) |
| Silver | Solar panels, electronics, jewelry, photography, medical sterilization | Mexico (#1), China (BRICS), Peru, Chile |
| Platinum | Catalytic converters, hydrogen fuel cells, jewelry, chemical processing | South Africa (BRICS) – ~70–75% of world supply |
| Palladium | Catalytic converters, electronics, hydrogen purification, dental alloys | Russia (BRICS) – #1 producer; South Africa (BRICS) |
| Rhodium | Catalytic converters, high-temperature equipment, jewelry plating | South Africa (BRICS) – ~80% of world supply |
| Iridium | Aerospace alloys, spark plugs, high-temperature electronics | South Africa (BRICS), Russia (BRICS) |
| Ruthenium | Electronics (chips, HDD), solar cells, chemical catalysts | South Africa (BRICS), Russia (BRICS) |
| Osmium | High-end alloys, scientific instruments, ommatidium tools | Russia (BRICS), South Africa (BRICS) |
| Lithium (strategic metal) | EV batteries, grid storage, electronics | China (BRICS) – dominates refining; Argentina (BRICS+), Bolivia (BRICS+ candidate) |
| Rare Earth Elements (REEs) (strategic) | Smartphones, EV motors, missiles, satellites, wind turbines | China (BRICS) – 70% mining, 85–90% processing |
| Cobalt (strategic) | EV batteries, military alloys, aerospace | DR Congo (Global South) – ~70% (mostly Chinese-owned mines/refineries) |
| Nickel (strategic) | EV batteries, stainless steel, military uses | Indonesia (Global South) – #1; Russia (BRICS); China (BRICS) |
| Manganese (strategic) | Steel production, batteries | South Africa (BRICS) – major global supplier |
| Chromium (strategic) | Stainless steel, aerospace alloys | South Africa (BRICS) – dominates global chromium ore supply |
| Vanadium (strategic) | Aerospace alloys, grid-scale batteries | China (BRICS), Russia (BRICS), South Africa (BRICS) |
| Bauxite / Aluminum (strategic) | Aircraft, vehicles, power grid components | Guinea (Global South) – #1; China (BRICS) – massive refiner |
Key Takeaways at a Glance
-
BRICS and the Global South dominate nearly every metal needed for EVs, semiconductors, aerospace, green energy, and industrial manufacturing.
-
South Africa + Russia control the entire platinum-group metals supply chain.
-
China controls rare earths, lithium refining, cobalt refining, and major nickel production.
-
The U.S. and U.K. have almost no domestic sources of platinum, palladium, rhodium, cobalt, or rare earth metals.
BRICS and the Global South Control the World’s Most Critical Metals — And the U.S. Is More Dependent Than Ever
The global economy is shifting, and it’s happening in the ground beneath our feet—literally.
From electric vehicles to smartphones, satellites, solar energy, semiconductors, and even modern weapons systems, the most important industries in the world run on a handful of rare and precious metals.
Here’s the part many Americans and Europeans don’t realize:
BRICS nations and the Global South control the majority of those metals.
This gives them unprecedented leverage, especially as geopolitical tensions rise and de-dollarization spreads across the developing world.
This article breaks down which metals matter, who controls them, and what this means for the U.S. and the U.K. moving forward.
⚡ Why Precious Metals Are Now Strategic Weapons
For decades, gold and silver were considered the main “precious metals.” But the modern economy relies just as heavily on metals like:
-
Platinum
-
Palladium
-
Rhodium
-
Lithium
-
Cobalt
-
Nickel
-
Rare Earth Elements (REEs)
-
Iridium, Ruthenium, Osmium
-
Manganese and Chromium
These metals are used in everything from EV batteries and solar panels to missile guidance systems and MRI machines.
BRICS Nations Hold the Keys to Industry
Let’s break it down by country and metal so you can see the pattern clearly.
China: The Refining Superpower
China controls:
-
70% of rare earth mining
-
85–90% of rare earth refining
-
60% of global lithium refining
-
The majority of cobalt refining
-
A growing share of nickel production
-
Top-three global gold output
Whether the West likes it or not, China controls the entire rare earth supply chain, which powers:
-
Smartphones
-
Electric vehicles
-
Solar panels
-
Fighter jets
-
Drones
-
Missile systems
-
Wind turbines
This is one of the biggest strategic vulnerabilities for the U.S. and the U.K.
Russia: Palladium, Nickel, Gold, and Strategic Alloys
Russia is a top global producer of:
-
Palladium (#1)
-
Nickel (#3)
-
Platinum
-
Gold
-
Iridium & Ruthenium
Palladium and platinum are essential for catalytic converters, hydrogen technology, and medical equipment.
Nickel is critical for EV batteries and aerospace materials.
When Russia reduces exports—as it has done before—prices skyrocket worldwide.
South Africa: The Heart of Platinum-Group Metals
South Africa dominates:
-
75% of platinum
-
80% of rhodium
-
70–80% of iridium and ruthenium
These platinum-group metals (PGMs) cannot be easily replaced.
PGMs run the automotive sector, petrochemical refiners, medical devices, and high-temperature electronics.
Without South Africa, global industry slows down within weeks.
Brazil: Nickel, Iron, Rare Earths, and Gold
Brazil has:
-
Large deposits of nickel
-
Key sources of rare earth elements
-
Large-scale gold production
Brazil’s role grows as BRICS+ seeks to build an integrated resource network.
India: Rare Earth Potential & Growing Refining
India is not yet a top producer, but it is building refining and processing capacity to reduce dependence on Western systems and strengthen BRICS’ collective supply chain.
Global South Nations Outside BRICS Also Dominate Metals
BRICS+ expansion is drawing in many Global South nations who already control essential minerals.
These include:
🇲🇽 Mexico – #1 Silver Producer
Essential for solar energy and electronics.
🇵🇪 Peru & 🇨🇱 Chile – Silver, Copper, Lithium**
Chile and Argentina also share the world’s most important Lithium Triangle.
🇦🇷 Argentina – Massive Lithium Reserves**
Expected to join BRICS+ formally.
DR Congo – 70% of World’s Cobalt
But with China owning much of the mining & refining, cobalt is effectively controlled by the China-Africa economic partnership.
Guinea – #1 Bauxite (Aluminum) Supplier**
Aluminum is central to aviation, vehicles, and power grids.
🇮🇩 Indonesia – World’s #1 Nickel Producer**
Nickel is the backbone of modern batteries.
Many of these nations are already aligned with BRICS or negotiating BRICS+ membership.
How Much Trouble Are the U.S. and U.K. In?
The U.S. and U.K. are not helpless, but they are strategically vulnerable.
Why Vulnerable:
-
They lack domestic mines for most critical metals.
-
Refining capacity in the West is extremely limited.
-
China, Russia, South Africa, and Indonesia hold the leverage.
-
EV, solar, defense, and semiconductor industries depend on imports.
-
Supply chain chokepoints could disrupt entire industries.
Why Not Doomed:
-
The U.S. still leads in technology and innovation.
-
Alternative mining projects in the U.S. and Canada are underway.
-
Recycling technology for rare earths is evolving.
-
Western nations are trying to rebuild supply chains—but this will take 10–15 years.
But the balance of power has shifted.
For the first time in modern history, the most essential metals for the next-century economy are held by countries outside Western control.
This is why BRICS expansion matters — it is not about currency alone, but about resource dominance.
Conclusion: The Future Is Multipolar — and Mineral-Driven
The world is entering a new phase where critical metals are more powerful than oil was in the 1970s.
BRICS and the Global South collectively dominate the resources that:
-
Build the world’s batteries
-
Power the green-energy transition
-
Support aerospace and defense systems
-
Manufacture smartphones and computers
-
Enable electric vehicles
-
Keep modern industry running
This resource imbalance does not mean collapse for the U.S. or U.K., but it does mean dependency — and dependency always reduces political and economic leverage.
The nations that control the metals of the future will control the industries and technologies of the future.
And right now, those nations are overwhelmingly BRICS or BRICS-aligned.
BRICS Payment System
On top of all of this the BRICS payment system is an ambitious project by emerging economies to build a new payments infrastructure that gives them more autonomy, reduces dependence on the dollar and Western financial systems, and supports trade in local currencies.
SEO Keywords (include naturally in metadata or copy):
BRICS metals, global south resources, BRICS precious metals, rare earth dominance, China rare earth control, South Africa platinum supply, Russia palladium reserves, lithium triangle BRICS, EV battery minerals, strategic metal shortages, U.S. dependency on BRICS, de-dollarization resources, mineral geopolitics, critical minerals supply chain, BRICS+ expansion
