Abstract:

In light of escalating risks associated with the concentrated supply chains of critical minerals, the capacity to trace the origins of these minerals, their movement through supply chains, the entities in possession of them, and their transformation processes is becoming increasingly vital for policymakers aiming to establish diversified and responsible supply chains.

This study presents findings from a pioneering survey on traceability done by the IEA and OECD. Over 80 respondent companies engaged in the supply chains of the six targeted minerals (copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth elements) submitted findings from October to December 2025. The report evaluates the present condition of corporate traceability practices, analyzes governmental utilization of traceability as a policy tool, and identifies significant obstacles to broader adoption, such as elevated implementation costs, restricted interoperability among systems, and difficulties in information transmission across intricate and geographically concentrated supply chains. Finally, the research delineates five measures for policymakers to facilitate broader adoption of traceability systems to enhance supply chain diversification and resilience.