Feb 14, 2026
A Lithuanian official informed Bloomberg this week that Lithuania is signaling it may strike its own critical minerals deal with Washington if the European Union cannot finalize a bloc-wide agreement quickly enough. If it follows through, it could become the first EU member to pursue a standalone minerals pact with the United States, potentially setting off a domino effect among other security-focused states in Eastern Europe.
Lithuania’s goal is to secure reliable access to the materials its engineering and defense sectors depend on. Vilnius wants to plug into U.S.-aligned supply chains that bypass China’s dominance in critical minerals processing and refining.
For a small frontline NATO state, this is not merely symbolic. Rare earth magnets, battery metals, gallium, and germanium are all inputs for electronics, weapons systems, and advanced manufacturing. China may not mine all of these, but it does control much of the refining capacity, which is where the leverage currently sits. Adding a layer of urgency is China’s recent tightening of export control on rare earths and other strategic minerals last year.
If Brussels moves slowly, as is often the case, Lithuania appears willing to move alone. The European Commission prefers structured, reciprocal agreements rather than member states cutting their own side deals. If Lithuania gets tired of the EU’s foot-dragging, which could span years, it could lead to sourcing arrangements, joint projects in third countries, or cooperation on processing and recycling.
The United States is prone to encourage direct partnerships as it builds a wider coalition to counter China’s critical minerals dominance in processing and refining.
The bigger picture is that critical minerals policy is defense policy by another name. Lithuania wants certainty and, if it cannot get it through the EU fast enough, is prepared to get it directly from Washington.
1. INTRODUCTION
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
REPORT DESCRIPTION
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
KEY FINDINGS
MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
3. MARKET OVERVIEW
Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects
MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT
5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export
TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
UNSATURATED MARKETS
TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
7. PRODUCTION
The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
8. IMPORTS
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
9. EXPORTS
The Largest Destinations for Exports
EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
11.
LIST OF TABLES
Key Findings In 2025
Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Per Capita Consumption, by Country, 2022–2025
Production, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
LIST OF FIGURES
Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Consumption, by Country, 2025
Market Volume Forecast to 2035
Market Value Forecast to 2035
Market Size and Growth, By Product
Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
Exports and Growth, By Product
Export Prices and Growth, By Product
Production Volume and Growth
Exports and Growth
Export Prices and Growth
Market Size and Growth
Per Capita Consumption
Imports and Growth
Import Prices
Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Production, by Country, 2025
Production, In Physical Terms, by Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)