CRM list 2017

 

The EC criticality methodology is applied to both abiotic and biotic raw materials. The 2016 assessment considered 78 non-energy, non-agricultural raw materials. For the first time, individual assessment results are available for the HREEs, LREEs and PGMs.

 

The third list of critical raw materials for the EU

Of the 78 candidate raw materials assessed (58 individual and 3 grouped materials HREEs, LREEs and PGMs), the following 27 raw materials and groups of raw materials were identified as critical:

2017 CRMs (27)
Antimony	Fluorspar	LREEs	Phosphorus
Baryte	Gallium	Magnesium	Scandium
Beryllium	Germanium	Natural graphite	Silicon metal
Bismuth	Hafnium	Natural Rubber	Tantalum
Borate	Helium	Niobium	Tungsten
Cobalt	HREEs*	PGMs	Vanadium
Coking coal	Indium	Phosphate rock

*HREEs=heavy rare earth elements, LREEs=light rare earth elements, PGMs=platinum group metals

 

The third list includes 9 more new materials than the 2014 list: baryte, bismuth, hafnium, helium, natural rubber, phosphorus, scandium, tantalum, vanadium. Three of these are entirely new to the list (bismuth, helium, phosphorus), as they were not assessed in 2014. The 2017 assessment identifies all 14 of the 2011 CRMs as critical. Compared to the 2011 CRMs list, the 2017 CRMs list includes ten additional critical raw materials: baryte, borate, vanadium, bismuth, hafnium, helium, natural rubber, phosphate rock, phosphorus and silicon metal. Chromium and magnesite that were classified as CRMs in 2014 are not in the 2017 list.

 

All raw materials, even when not classed as critical, are important for the EU economy.

 

The full documentation about the 2017 CRMs list can be downloaded:

• 2017 Study  on the review of the list of Critical Raw Materials 2017
• 2017 JRC Report on the revised criticality assessment methodology - Background report
• 2017 JRC Report on the revised criticality assessment methodology - Annexes
• 2017 JRC Report on the revised criticality assessment methodology  - Guidelines.