This report strengthens the UK’s critically assessment by integrating market dynamics, supply-chain interdependencies, geopolitical risks and climate vulnerabilities through multiple complementary indicators. Material flow characterisation strengthens trade-based indicators, while the integration of climate vulnerability into the ESG criteria addresses a critical gap with minimal methodological disruption. Corporate concentration and production forecasting were also evaluated and deemed to offer the best value for targeted, deep-dive analyses and potential stress-testing of industry supply chains, but data limitations prevent systematic application in criticality assessments.
The result is a more granular, evidence-based understanding of how different materials exhibit criticality, whether through market opacity, supply-chain centrality, geopolitical concentration, or climate exposure, enabling tailored intervention strategies matched to specific material risk profiles rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.
Dr Pierre Josso, deputy director of CMIC.