Germany

2024 Report

Full data release with tables here.

Introduction 

In 2024, Germany produced a diverse range of mineral commodities and was the 2d-ranked in world production of iron oxide pigments (not including United States production); 4th in production of salt; 5th in production of potash; 7th in production of pig iron and raw steel (tied with Turkey), and; 8th in production of refined copper, lime, peat, refined copper, industrial sand and gravel, and silicon metal; 10th in production of diatomite (tied with Russia and Spain) and gypsum; 11th in production of fluorspar and selenium; 13th in production of nitrogen (N content of ammonia); 16th in production of cadmium; and 17th in production of alumina and graphite. The country’s share of world production of peat and salt (estimated) in 2024 amounted 5.5% each; potash (estimated), 5.4%; gypsum (estimated), 2.9%; refined copper, 2.2%; industrial sand and gravel (estimated), 2.1%; raw steel and diatomite (estimated), 2.0% each; pig iron, 1.9%; nitrogen (N content of ammonia), 1.4%; selenium (estimated), 1.3%; lime, 1.1%; cadmium (estimated), 0.6%; silicon metal (estimated), 0.5%; alumina (estimated) and fluorspar (estimated), 0.3% each; and graphite, 0.009%. Other mineral commodities produced included aluminum, barite, boron, cement, clays, copper (smelter), ferroalloys, gold, direct reduced iron, lead, magnesium, palladium, phosphate rock, platinum, construction sand and gravel, silver, soda ash, stone, and zinc (Production table; Brioche, 2026a–c; Callaghan, 2026; Crangle, 2026a, b; Flanagan, 2026a, b; Goodin, 2026; Jasinski, 2026; Kim, 2026; Londono, 2026; MacGregor, 2026a, b; Merrill, 2026; Schnebele, 2026; Stewart, 2026; Tuck, 2026). 

Minerals in the National Economy 

In 2024, Germany’s real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased by 0.5% owing to increased competition for German export industry in primary sales markets, a high rise in energy prices, and uncertainty in the economic outlook. In 2022 (the latest year for which data were available), the mining and quarrying sector contributed 0.26% of the national total or equivalent to Germany’s gross value added (GVA). Output and GVA in the manufacturing sector decreased by 0.3% owing to decrease in manufacturing production of chemicals, machinery and equipment, and metalworking owing to high energy costs. Germany’s nominal GDP was \$4.69 trillion, accounting for 24% of the GDP of the European Union (EU) (\$19.5 trillion). In 2024, the country’s mineral industry remained heavily dependent on imported raw mineral materials, and Germany continued to be one of the leading global exporters of industrial goods and services, including processed and fabricated mineral products. While domestic anthracite mining was discontinued at the end of 2018, all the lignite consumed in the country was supplied by domestic production; however, Germany remained dependent on imports of other mineral fuels (natural gas and crude petroleum) for most of the remainder of its primary energy consumption. The metal-processing sector relied on imports of metal ores and concentrates, and on the reprocessing of metallic scrap and waste materials (both imported and produced domestically), because no metals were mined in the country except low-grade iron ore aggregates and minor amounts of bauxite ore in 2024. Germany also was reliant on imports of numerous industrial minerals. The international competitiveness of the country’s nonfuel mineral-processing and fabrication sector relied primarily on factors such as a highly skilled labor force; research, development, and rapid assimilation of new technologies (including metal and other mineral materials recycling technologies); and the development and maintenance of free-trade relationships both within and outside the EU (Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2025, p. 6–8; Destatis Statistiches Bundesamt, 2025; International Monetary Fund, 2026, p. 120; World Bank, The, 2026). 

In 2024, natural gas consumption in Germany increased by approximately 3.5% compared with that in 2023 owing to higher demand during colder weather and increased electricity production. The Government continued its efforts to decrease and stabilize prices, including measures intended to support the German industry’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2045. Despite this effort, the country’s energy-intensive industry continued to face high energy prices, and Germany remained dependent on natural gas supplied by certain countries. In 2024, 48% of natural gas imports came from Norway, 25% from the Netherlands, 18% from Belgium; and additional about 8% of natural gas was received through domestic LNG terminals. Prices remained higher than those before the Russia and Ukraine conflict. The conflict led to a natural gas shutoff owing to the attack on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in September 2022, which carried natural gas from Russia to Europe, and resulted in increased energy prices owing to the importation of natural gas at higher cost. In addition, the Government completed the closure of nuclear powerplants in 2023 and continued to implement its plan to reduce coal production to zero by 2038 (Lan, Sher, and Zhou, 2022; Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2025, p. 38–40; International Trade Administration, 2025).  

Government Policies and Programs 

Germany’s main mining law is the Federal Mining Act (BGBl. IS. 1310), which was approved on August 13, 1980, and revised on December 9, 2006, through a slight revision to provisions of Article 11 (BGBl. IS. 2833) and amended on June 14, 2021. In 2021, amendments to the Federal Mining Act were implemented regarding lithium deposits. The amendments indicated that all forms of lithium are regulated as freely minable mineral resources and are owned by the State. The State can grant mining rights to companies. The country’s production of most industrial minerals (including gypsum and anhydrite, limestone, other types of natural stone, peat, and some types of sand and gravel) was not directly regulated under the Federal Mining Act but was covered by a variety of other land-management and environmental regulations at both the Federal and State levels. Although the creation of the Federal Mines Inspectorate was not mandated in the Federal Mining Act, it does enforce many of the regulations in the main mining law. The Federal Mines Inspectorate was established through Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesministerium der Justiz, 2007, p. 1; 2021; Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie, 2013, p. 32–46; Deutscher Bundestag, 2021; Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2025, p. 12–13). 

In 2024, the Government continued its effort to support the German steel industry to become carbon neutral by 2045. The Government planned to establish new criteria for awarding public contracts, introduce a minimum quota for low-carbon and carbon-neutral steel in finished products, and implement a new “green steel” label (steel produced using environmentally friendly methods that reduce carbon emission) (Thelocal.de, 2020; Joint Research Center, 2022; Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, 2024; Reuters, 2024). 

In 2024, to ensure diversification and long-term security of raw material supply, the German Government established Raw Material Funds, where KfW Development Bank (one of the world’s leading promotional banks) was the point of contact for funding raw material supply projects. The fund was expected to support domestic and international critical material projects for commodities included in the EU Critical Raw Material List 2023 or identified by German Mineral Resources Agency [Die Deutsche Rohstoffagentur (DERA)] as risk category 3. Funding was expected to facilitate the extraction, processing, and recycling of critical raw materials for a period of least 5 years (with possible extension), and eligible companies were expected to have their headquarters registered in the EU and (or) have at least one subsidiary, branch, office in the EU. In addition, German and EU industries were expected to receive primary access to the processed commodities (Kozaczynska, 2024; KfW Development Bank, 2026). 

Production 

Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1). 

Structure of the Mineral Industry 

Since the closure of the last metal mines in 1992, there has been no production of metallic mineral ores in Germany, except iron ore aggregates and minor amounts of bauxite ore. Many of the leading companies in global metal-processing sector, however, owned and operated facilities in Germany. thyssenkrupp Steel AG was the leading producer of raw steel in Germany and the 42d-ranked producer of raw steel in the world. ArcelorMittal S.A. of Luxembourg was the second-ranked producer of raw steel in Germany and the second-ranked producer in the world. Aurubis AG was the leading producer of refined copper in Germany and in the EU, and Salzgitter AG held a 29.99% ownership interest in Aurubis. Nordenham Metall GmbH was one of the leading refined lead producers in Europe. The third-ranked producer of smelters in the country was Eco-Bat Technologies Ltd. The Government promoted development and held ownership interests in a number of major mineral-commodity-producing companies. The facilities table is a list of major mineral industry facilities (Facilities table; Aurubis AG, 2025, p. 54; Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2025, p. 49, 57, 59; World Steel Association, 2025, p. 8; Eco-Bat Technologies Ltd., 2026). 

Mineral Trade 

In 2024, Germany had a positive trade balance of about \$263 billion. The country’s total exports were \$1.68 trillion,¹ and imports were \$1.41 trillion. Germany exported raw mineral and energy materials worth \$123.1 billion (excluding potash salts and fertilizer, data for which have not been reported since 2008 to avoid disclosing proprietary data), which was a 2.2% increase compared with exports in 2023. Of the total export revenue from raw minerals, 71.3% came from metallic raw materials (9.5% of which was recycled material), 25.6% from energy raw materials, and 3.1% from exports of nonmetals [Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2024, p. 26; 2025, p. 24; Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), 2026]. 

Among imports of goods, \$209 billion, or 14.8%, were mineral-related goods—energy resources, metals (excluding recycled raw materials), recycled raw materials, and nonmetals (ores, concentrates, intermediates, and downstream products along the value chain, including semifinished products). Compared with 2023, this was a 9.3% decrease, which is predominantly caused by the decrease in imports of raw materials (especially energy) in terms of volume, decrease in prices for commodities (energy and metals), and conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In particular, the expenditure on imported energy goods (raw materials and downstream products) and metals decreased by 11.7% and 6.5%, respectively, or by about \$14.8 billion and \$6.5 billion, respectively, compared with that in 2023. Also, spending on recycled raw material decreased by 4.3%, or by \$649 million. Spending on nonmetallic mineral commodities was 3.0% lower than that in 2023. Nonmetals accounted for 1.9% of import spending, while energy raw materials accounted for 53.4% of imports spending, and metals (including iron ore and steel, nonferrous metal, and metals) accounted for 44.7%. Within imports of energy raw materials, crude oil accounted for 43.3% of energy raw material import spending; natural gas, 20.9%. In addition, 26.9% of energy raw materials import spending was directed to petrochemical products (for example, fuels, lubricants, and oils), 5.4% to coal, and 3.5% to other energy. The group of metallic raw materials included ores and concentrates and constituted 31.2% of spending on intermediate products (oxides, hydroxides, primary and secondary refined, alloys); recycled raw material, 14.6%; metal raw materials, 10.3%. The remaining of 43.9% was from high-value products such as fuels, lubricants, and oils (Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2024, p. 20‒22; 2025, p. 18, 19, 22). 

Germany imported raw materials from many parts of the world. The imports of raw materials came both directly from raw-material-producing countries in the form of ores and concentrates or intermediate products, such as ferroalloys, oxides, and hydroxides, and from countries with processing industries (smelters, refineries). In terms of volume, about 29.5% of Germany's imports came from the EU, followed by the rest of Europe and North America (12.7% each), Africa (10.7%), Asia (8.6%), South America (including Central America and the Caribbean) (6.1%), and Australia and Oceania (3.2%). A total of 14.6% of imports came from countries that were not specified so as to avoid disclosing company proprietary data. While nonmetals were predominantly imported from Europe (93.3%), 68.1% were from the EU, only about 50.1% of metallic raw materials (excluding recycled raw materials) were imported from Europe, 43.3% came from the EU. Imported ores, concentrates, and refined metals were received from countries in North America (17.6%), Africa (17.3%), and South America (11.6%), and Asia (3.0%). Recycled raw materials were imported mainly from Europe (97.8%), 84.7% came from the EU, and the rest from Asia (1.1%) and North America (0.8%). In 2024, top importers by value were the Netherlands (\$23.81 billion), the United States (\$16.77 billion), Belgium (\$13.31 billion), Norway (\$11.58 billion), and France (\$9.63 billion). Imports from Russia, excluding natural gas, decreased by 58.4% to \$1.19 billion in 2024. Even though the percentage indicated that a significant percentage of imports came from EU countries, the raw materials actually mainly came from outside the EU. Although the data indicate that Netherlands and Belgium were likely major exporters of goods to Germany, they were likely only passthrough ports with the raw materials originating elsewhere (Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2024, p. 22–23; 2025, p. 18–21). 

Commodity Review 

Aluminum.—In 2024, Germany produced 710,000 metric tons (t) of aluminum metal, including 220,000 t of primary aluminum and 490,000 t of secondary aluminum. Secondary aluminum production was higher than primary owing to its lower energy requirement for production. In 2024, production of aluminum hydroxide was estimated to be about 670,000 t (Production table; Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2025, p. 55). 

Germany continued to rely on imports of raw materials for its aluminum production. The country imported about 2.24 million metric tons (Mt) of bauxite, which was an increase of 103% compared with that in 2023; 97.6% of bauxite imports came from Guinea. The imports of aluminum hydroxide decreased by 7.4% to 137,460 t from 148,516 t, whereas exports increased by 39.9% to 509,140 t from 363,999 t. Aluminum hydroxide was imported mainly from Brazil (30.8%), followed by the Netherlands (24.3%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (15.5%), and Spain (11.6%); exports were mainly shipped to the Netherlands (24.6%) and France (13.8%), with smaller amounts going to France. Imports of aluminum oxide decreased by 30.4%, to 422,591 t from 607,519 t, whereas exports increased by 111.5%, to 643,183 t from 304,152 t. Aluminum oxide was imported mainly from the Netherlands (68.7%), followed by Spain (12.6%); and exported to Norway (25.6%), followed by the Netherlands (18.2%) and France (15.0%) (Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2025, p. 119). 

In 2023, Speira GmbH phased out the remaining 70,000 metric tons per year (t/yr) of primary aluminum production capacity at its Rheinwerk smelter in Neuss, Nordrhein-Westfalen State owing to high energy prices. In 2024, Spiera began full remodeling of primary aluminum operations at its Rheinwerk smelter and invested \$43 million in the construction of a new recycling furnace. The company was expected to transform the former primary aluminum plant into a leading recycling hub. Construction of the new recycling furnace was expected to be completed in early 2026 (Facilities table; Speira GmbH, 2022; Devitt, 2023; Majumder, 2024; Wookey, 2024).  

In December 2024, Martinswerk GmbH resumed operations at the alumina plant in Bergheim resumed following the completion of the switch from a coal-fired plant to a gas-fired plant. This switch was expected to reduce the carbon emission at Bergheim plant by 40% (Huber Advanced Materials, 2023, p. 14, 36, 84; 2024).  

Copper.—In 2024, total copper smelter production in Germany decreased by 9% to 468,600 t from 515,000 t in 2023, whereas refined copper production increased by 0.2% to 597,000 t from 596,000 t. Total refined copper production increased by 0.2% compared with that in 2023 to 597,000 t. Germany’s imports of copper ores and concentrates decreased by 29.5% to 869,923 t from 1.23 Mt, and came predominantly from Chile (31.1%), followed by Brazil (23.2%) and Peru (13.6%). Exports increased by 3% to 38,715 t from 37,600 t and were mainly shipped to Sweden (98.8%). Imports of copper cathode decreased by 12.1% to 416,692 t from 474,231 t, with most copper cathode sourced from Belgium (18.3%), followed by Poland (17.5%), Chile (13.2%), and Finland (11.6%); exports of copper cathode decreased by 30.0% to 87,236 t from 124,576 t and were mainly shipped to Italy (22.0%), followed by Austria (18.1%), Poland (14.2%), and Sweden (11.2%). Imports of unwrought refined copper increased by 18.3% to 20,716 t from 17,507 t and came predominantly from Austria (50.4%) and Vietnam (29.2%), whereas exports decreased by 16.3% to 37,075 t from 44,269 t and mainly was shipped to Austria (29.4%), followed by Poland (18.1%) and Italy (10.7%). In 2024, Germany consumed more than 965,000 t of copper, making it the leading copper consumer in Europe and the third in the world after China and the United States (Production Table; Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2025 p. 8, 57, 123, 124).  

Gypsum.— Production of mined gypsum was 4.42 Mt, a decrease of 6.6% compared with that in 2023. In 2024, lignite- and anthracite-fired powerplants together produced about 2.91 Mt of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum. Following adoption of the 2020 Coal Reduction Act (Coal Phase Out Act), a steady decline of FGD gypsum production was expected through 2038. To address the anticipated decline, the industry was developing plans to increase gypsum recycling in the coming years and raise production of natural gypsum to between 7.7 and 8.8 Mt by 2045 (Production table; Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2025, p. 76, 77). 

Iron and Steel.—In 2024, Germany’s iron and steel industry faced challenges owing to increases in energy costs, uncertain market conditions, weaker demand (especially in the automotive sector), and the transition to low-emission steel production (green steel), which requires the development of supporting infrastructure such as wind farms and hydrogen facilities in both industry and in engineering. To achieve climate targets, many steel companies continued to develop their own decarbonization strategies. For example, thyssenkrupp continued implementing Strategy 2030, under which carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions were expected to be reduced by more than 30% by 2030 and to reach carbon free production by 2045. Salzgitter AG continued to advance its Salzgitter AG 2030 strategy, which aims to establish more climate-friendly production processes and move toward a reducing CO₂ emission (Salzgitter AG, 2024, p. 22; undated; thyssenkrupp Steel Europe, 2025, p. 6, 7, 27, 73).  

Germany’s apparent steel consumption was 26.0 Mt compared with 28.0 Mt in 2023, a decrease of 7.1%. In 2024, a total of 129.7 Mt of raw steel was manufactured in the EU compared with 126.3 Mt in 2023. Germany produced 29% of the EU total in 2024 compared with 28% in 2023 and remained the leading producer of raw steel in the EU. In 2024, raw steel production in Germany increased by 5.2% to 37.2 Mt in 2023. About 70.9% of raw steel made in Germany was basic oxygen furnace steel, and the remaining 29.1% was produced using electric arc furnace technology. In 2024, the top nine producers of raw steel in Germany accounted for about 95% of total production; they were thyssenkrupp, which produced about 10.3 Mt of raw steel; ArcelorMittal (6.7 Mt); Salzgitter (5.2 Mt); Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann GmbH (4.0 Mt); AG der Dillinger Hüttenwerke (2.3Mt); Saarstahl AG (2.2 Mt); Badische Stahlwerke GmbH (2.02 Mt); Riva Stahl GmbH (1.9 Mt); and Georgsmarienhütte GmbH (about 1.1 Mt) (Facilities table; Production table; Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2025, p. 48‒51; Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann GmbH, undated).  

In 2024, Germany produced 24.3 Mt of pig iron, an increase of 2.9% compared with that in 2023. The country imported iron ore and concentrates (non-agglomerated) needed for pig iron production, and in 2024 imports decreased by 10% to 22.8 Mt from 25.4 Mt, and were imported predominantly from South Africa (36.3%), followed by Canada (29.9%) and Brazil (23.8%). Imports of iron ore and concentrates (agglomerated) increased by 18.2% to 11.8 Mt from 9.98 Mt, and came predominantly from Canada (37.2%), Sweden (29.9%), and Brazil (14.3%). Exports of iron ore and concentrates (agglomerated) (Austria, 100%) increased by 13.8% to 1.15 Mt from 1.01 Mt. Exports of unalloyed steel (semifinished products), stainless steel (raw forms), and ferroalloys (ferronickel, ferroniobium, ferrophosphorus, ferrosilicomanganese, and ferrotungsten) continued to decrease (World Steel Association, 2024, p. 10, 16; 2025, p. 10, 16; Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2025, p. 48, 131, 133–138; Barbara Erzbergbau GmbH, undated). 

Lead and Zinc.—In 2024, production of refined lead (primary and secondary) totaled 300,000 t compared with 310,000 t in 2023. Production of refined zinc (primary and secondary) totaled 55,200 t compared with 300 t in 2023. Operation at the Nordenham zinc smelter resumed in the first quarter of 2024; the smelter was operated by Nordenhamer Zinkhutte GmbH. In 2024, Nordenhamer Zinkhutte GmbH, which was wholly owned by Glencore plc, suspended operations at the Nordenham smelter owing to high energy costs (Production table; Facilities table; Mining Technology, 2022; Reuters, 2023; Glencore plc, 2025, p. 64, 228, 243). 

Germany’s imports of lead ore and concentrates, decreased by 2% to 258,694 t from 263,987 t, and were imported predominantly from Sweden (33.3%), followed by the United States (23.9%) and Spain (10.9%). Exports of lead ore and concentrates decreased by 30.7% to 551 t from 795 t and were shipped to Poland (100%). Imports of unwrought refined lead increased by 3.9% to 135,282 t from 130,168 t and came predominantly from Belgium (41.1%), the United Kingdom (20.7%), and Spain (13.1%). Exports of unwrought refined lead increased by 55.6% to 122,603 t from 78,803 t and were mainly shipped to Belgium (24.2%), Poland (19.9%), Czechia (18.6%), and Italy (10.0%). The imports of zinc ores and concentrates, increased by 411.5% to 231,067 t from 45,178 t, and came from Sweden (31.2%), followed by Peru (30.3%) and Australia (14.7%). In 2024, Germany used 313,000 t of lead and 262,000 t of zinc which made it the seventh-ranked consumer of lead and the ninth-ranked consumer of zinc in the world (Production table; Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2025, p. 58, 60, 121, 126). 

Lithium.—Germany did not produce lithium in 2024. Germany’s imports of lithium carbonate decreased by 8.9% to 5,389 t in 2024 compared with 5,918 t in 2023 and came predominantly from Chile. Deutsche Lithium GmbH, a subsidiary of Zinnwald Lithium Plc of the United Kingdom, was expected to develop an underground mine at the Zinnwald ore deposit near Dresden in eastern Germany. The company was expected to complete pre-feasibility study in the first quarter of 2025 and was expected to complete the definitive feasibility study in 2026.  As of June 6, 2024, the measured and indicated mineral resources were estimated at 193.5 Mt grading at 0.478% of lithium oxide, and inferred mineral resources were estimated at 33.3 Mt grading at 0.461% of lithium oxide. Production in Phase 1 of the mine was estimated to range between 16,000 and 18,000 t/yr of battery-grade lithium hydroxide. The mine’s life was expected to be 35 years (Zinnwald Lithium Plc, 2024, p. 2‒4; undated; Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2025, p. 157). 

Peat.—In 2024, peat production in Germany decreased by 21% to 990,000 t from 1.25 Mt. Owing to the Climate Action Plan 2050 and the Climate Action Programme 2030, peat production in Germany was expected to be zero by 2040. The Government was also expected to develop and disseminate information on peat substitution. Imports of peat increase by 7.7% to 870,713 t from 808,731 t, and came predominantly from Latvia, followed by Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Estonia. Exports of peat decreased by 1.3% to 1.18 Mt in 2024 from 1.2 Mt in 2023, and were shipped predominantly to the Netherlands, followed by Italy and France (Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, 2022, p. 6, 12; Osterburg, 2024; Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 2025, p. 183).  

Production table

(Metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified)

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