Burma

In 2024, Burma was the world’s fourth-ranked producer of rare earths, accounting for 7.1% of global production; fifth-ranked producer of antimony, accounting for 3.8% of global production; and sixth-ranked producer of tin, accounting for 6.8% of global production. Other major mineral commodities produced in the country included barite, ferronickel, lead, manganese, nickel, tungsten, and zinc. Production of mineral commodities in the mining sector contributed less than 1% to Burma’s gross domestic product. Leading importers of mineral commodities from Burma were China for rare earths and Thailand for antimony. 

The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Burma is provided by the State-Owned Economic Enterprises Law of 1989, the Myanmar Mines Law of 1994 (as amended in 2015), the Myanmar Gemstones Law of 1995, the Mining Rules of 1996 (as amended in 2018), and the Investment Law of 2016. The Ministry of Natural Resources & Environmental Conservation oversees the mineral sector and grants mining permits. Mineral commodities were produced by a combination of domestic artisanal entities and joint enterprises operated by Government of Burma as well as Chinese companies. The extraction of the critical minerals of rare earths and antimony were by small-scale artisanal entities or entities that were outside of the control of the Government of Burma.